Let's Talk Sulfites! By Ken Biringer

We've all heard a lot about sulfites in wine, but what exactly are they, what are they used for and how do they effect our health? I was first introduced to sulfite in the hobby of winemaking. I learned the basics from a well-seasoned winemaker. He was very knowledgeable in chemistry and was a "stickler" with keeping things clean and sanitized during the winemaking process. That's where sulfite came into the picture.

In winemaking, sulfite is used to sanitize equipment, as a wine preservative and to inhibit the growth of unwanted yeast, mould and bacteria. Vinegar bacteria, for example, can turn your batch of good wine into a batch of great vinegar!

Two types of sulfite are commonly used in winemaking; potassium and sodium sulfite. When combined with the acids found in wine, these  salts release sulfur dioxide gas . This gas is produced naturally by wine yeast, so all wine contains a certain amount of sulfites. Sulfites are then added to wine to safely increase their levels. Sulfites are not new to the wine industry. They have been used for thousands of years for the preservation of food and wine. From a health standpoint, these are the facts I've found:

• Sulfites are non toxic and are naturally created in the fermentation of wine. Your body naturally produces sulfites every day.
• Through clinical studies, only .4% of the world population are found to be allergic to sulfites. Most people complaining of allergies to sulfites, may be allergic to some other compound existing in wine. There are many.
• In clinical studies, Sulfites have not been found to cause headaches.

All wines contain sulfites. Wines that claim to be sulfite-free are generally produced by not adding additional sulfites than those naturally produced in the fermentation process.

I am anxious to get feedback from those of you who may have more insight on the use of sulfites in winemaking. Please contact us with any additional information, experiences or disagreements on the subject. Let's keep this discussion going!