August 23, 2008

Contains sulfites - Wine and Sulfur

A nice article on the use of Sulfur in Winemaking:
Reconsidering sulfites
Progressive vintners weigh the pros and cons of the controversial winemaking tool

On almost every wine label, a challenging subject is concealed behind an opaque, almost nonchalant warning: "contains sulfites."

The term encompasses sulfur dioxide as well as many derivative forms of sulfur. Sulfites are present in all wines both as an additive and as a natural by-product of fermentation, and many countries require that their presence be indicated on the label.

Long viewed as a necessary, if unromantic, tool by winemakers, and either ignored or completely misunderstood by consumers, the role of sulfur in wine has become a hot topic. From health issues (see "Debunking myths," Page F4) to sulfur as a winemaking tool at a time when there's a push within the industry for wines made with minimal intervention, sulfur dioxide is in the spotlight like never before.

Sulfur dioxide has been used in the production of wine for centuries - primarily as a buffer to keep wine from reacting with too much oxygen, but also to inhibit microbial spoilage (from bacteria or rogue yeasts) that could lead to off flavors and aromas, and as a winemaking technique to partly control fermentation.
A fascinating read -- it also debunks the old sulfites=headache myth. Posted by DaveH at August 23, 2008 4:04 PM
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