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SULFITES: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT DO THEY
DO
- courtesy of Organic Vintners Q: What are sulfites? A: Sulfites, or sulfur dioxide (SO2) are the salts of sulfurous acids. They are a commonly used preservative found in foods, alcoholic drinks and even medications.(1) Sulfites occur naturally in table and wine grapes, as well as in all fermented foods and beverages. Sulfites have both fungicidal and antioxidant properties. Q: Why are they used in winemaking? A:Winemakers have historically added sulfur dioxide or sulfites to wine to help protect against damage to the wine by oxygen. It has been part of the craft of winemaking, much like yeast is used for bread. An old world practice, after the grapes are harvested and crushed, sulfur dioxide is used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and wild yeasts as well as to prevent spoilage or oxidation in the final wine.(2) Sulfites are also naturally-produced during the fermentation process of winemaking. Should I be concerned about sulfites in wine? A: The FDA estimates that one out of a hundred people is sulfite-sensitive, and 5% of those who have asthma are also at risk of suffering an adverse reaction to the substance.(3) It is important to note that sulfites naturally occur in several other fruits besides grapes. Wine writer Dan Berger has noted that "…you can get as much sulfites from one dried apple as from four full bottles of wines." So, the headache I get when I drink red wine - is that because of sulfites? A: Probably not, as red wine typically has lower levels of sulfites than white wine. Sulfites do not cause headaches, and the reason for red wine headaches that some people complain about has not yet been discovered.(4) Q: What U.S. regulations govern the use of sulfites in wine? A: Since July 9, 1987 the U.S. government has required the words "contains sulfites" on labels of all wine sold in the U.S. which contain 10 parts per million (ppm) or more of sulfites. Futhermore, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ( BATF) states that wines cannot contain more than 350 parts per million of sulfites.(5) Q: How can I tell how many sulfites are in a bottle of win I am about to buy? A: The honest answer is that you can't determine the levels of sulfites from the wine bottle alone. However, if the wine makes a "made with organic grapes" claim on the label, then you know the wine is less than 100ppm. If the wine carries the USDA certified organic seal, then you know it is less than 20ppm. As stated above, labels that claim "sulfite-free" are misleading as all wines have naturally occurring sulfites.
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