Are sulfites in wine bad?
Dec 19, 2022
What’s the deal with sulfites? Some wines have sulfites and some have minimal. ALL wines contain some amount of sulfites! It’s impossible to find a wine that is completely sulfite free because a small number of sulfites are naturally occurring in grapes, plus sulfites are an outcome of the natural fermentation process. What we can find is a wine that has no added sulfites, or minimal added sulfites. These bottles will say “no sulfites added” on the label, they are typically organic wines, which are required to be made from organically grown grapes and without added sulfites.
If a wine says “no sulfites added” that means the only sulfites you will be consuming is what is naturally found in the grapes and from the fermentation. If you find an organic wine that says “added sulfites” it means they added a minimal amount because they adhere to organic certification rules. The USDA certifies organic wine which has been grown using organic principles and contains less than 10 ppm of sulfites. Organic wines will often have a bolder flavor too because of minimal sulfites.
I do wish wine labels were to disclose the exact amount of sulfites they added to the wine so we could make an informed decision if we want to drink it or not.
If you are avoiding sulfites choose organic wines as they always have less.
Sulfites or sulfites, also commonly called sulfur dioxide are compounds that contain the sulfite ion, SO²⁻ . Sulfites occur naturally in some foods, and in some beverages as a result of fermentation, such as in beer and wine. Winemakers are also adding in extra sulfites to help preserve it. Sulfites are chemicals used to slow browning and discoloration in foods and beverages during preparation, storage, and distribution. Sulfites have been used in winemaking for centuries.
There is a small concentration of sulfites naturally occurring in foods such as fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi), avocados, black tea, maple syrup, peanuts, salmon, lettuce, tomatoes, soy, eggs, and some vegetables including onions, garlic, and asparagus, but generally, these levels are very low and of less concern.
Here is an example of an Organic wine with no added sulfites you can try! Check out Dry Farm Wines here and receive a benefit with my link.
