Sulfite Free Wine: Is it better for us?

With the increasing acceptance of sulfite free wine, several wine lovers are left wondering if they should step down on their favorite collections and grab an organic bottle of wine. But the big questions is, are sulfites really hurtful? Could our refreshing rosés beloved red and blends be causing us headaches? Is it possible to see red wine without sulfites?

Sulfites, or sulfur dioxide, are a chemical compound found naturally in various diets. Also, they are often added to nutritional products as a preservative due to their anti-microbial features.

This article explains what sulfites are, why they are in wine, whether you should watch out for them, what precisely sulfite-free wines are, and much more.

First, What Are Sulfites?

Sulfites are common additives. Scientifically speaking, sulfites, also known as sulfur dioxide, are chemical substances containing sulfite ions. 

While sulfites naturally exist in some foods (and even in the human body), they are also usually added to food and beverages because of their antioxidant and preservative nature.

What Is Sulfite Free Wine?

As the name suggests, sulfite free wine is a wine without sulfites. Actually, it’s a bit more complex than that. Sulfites come in two types – natural and added. Natural sulfites are unavoidable as they are formed during the fermentation process.

Both red and white wines usually need some sulfite addition to prevent oxidation (mainly whites, not to lose their subtle flavors) or to allow wines to improve with age (red wines mostly as aged wines are loved more generally).

Simply put, Sulfites are an anti-microbial element that enables wines to age without losing their freshness and flavor. Sulfite-free wines are younger, fresher, not explicitly meant for aging, and very expressive of the grape assortment.

Reasons for Sulfites in Wine

As mentioned above, there are two forms of sulfites: natural and added sulfites. Both are generally seen in wine, which is nothing to be afraid of. Natural wine sulfites are an unavoidable outcome of the winemaking process. However, the natural sulfites made during fermentation are insufficient to preserve the wine for very long – that’s where extra sulfites come in.

Without additional sulfites, a 20-year-old vintage would merely taste like vinegar! When talking about wine, sulfites that occur naturally cannot be avoided — they are naturally occurring constituents formed during fermentation.

This is why you should be doubtful of any wine bottles that claim to be sulfite free, as it’s almost impossible to make wine without sulfites. As for added sulfites, it’s not just the wine industry misusing the impressive antibacterial constituents of sulfites. These substances are added to various perishable diets, including:

• Dried fruits
• Jams and other preserves
• Condiments
• Potato chips
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Baked goods

The purpose of sulfites in wine is to preserve the color, flavor, and smell that the winemaker wants, plus to prolong its shelf life.

Without these protective preservers, wine is susceptible to oxidation (which makes the wine spoil, taking on an awful vinegar taste), together with yeast and bacteria. In addition, it’s hard to store wine and other perishables in the right state for transportation and storage. So, using the preservative power of sulfites prevents your favorite wine from turning into expensive vinegar.

The Benefits of Drinking Sulphite Free Wines

There are numerous benefits of drinking sulfite free wines. Generally, it’s actively good for you! Also, by replacing them for the commercial companies producing wines, you are removing chemical additives which are aggressively unsafe for you, so it’s a win-win scenario.

The significant benefits of sulfite free wine include the following:

• Limited cancer possibility
• Reduced stroke and heart attack
• Lowers bad cholesterol
• Limited dementia possibility
• Reduction in diabetes type 2 possibility as they increase insulin resistance
• Enhances good cholesterol.

Side Effects of Sulfites in Wine

Exposure to a considerable number of sulfites may trigger severe gastrointestinal flushing, hives, discomfort, and other common allergic reactions in your body.

While sulfites are not explicitly wrong, you may be among the 1% of the United States population with a sulfite allergy. In that case, you may experience symptoms like hives, diarrhea, stomach pain, or swelling of the throat and face.

If you are unsure if you are to sulfites allergy, contact your doctor.

Should I Be Bothered About Sulfites in Wine?

Despite the reputation for causing people headaches, sulfites do not affect the majority of wine drinkers. Generally, most people will not experience adverse reactions from the sulfites in wine as sulfites are entirely natural and not harmful (safe) for most individuals. In addition, most of the sulfites you ingest likely come from the food you consume, not the glass of wine you drink!

If you can eat those diets mentioned earlier without any issues, the probabilities are you don’t have sulfite sensitivity. Nevertheless, sulfite-sensitive people may have symptoms that range from mild wheezing to a severe asthmatic response, maybe because of the inhalation of sulfur dioxide that occurs while they drink or eat.

Removing Sulfites from Wine or Finding Low Sulfite Wines

If you are allergic to sulfites but completely avoid drinking wine, there are some steps to remove sulfites from your wine. The solution is hydrogen peroxide.

If you are doing this at home, adding the exact volume is essential so you do not have undrinkable wine. An average bottle of wine has about 80mg/L of sulfites. It will require ¼ of a teaspoonful of 3% hydrogen peroxide to eliminate all the sulfites without considerably changing the wine flavor.

Here are a few other ways to remove sulfite from your wine to prevent possible allergies:

• Filter Sulfites Out of Wine
• Use Wine Filtering Wands
• Add Solutions That Neutralize Sulfites in Wine
• Find Low Sulfite Wines Yourself

Sulfite Free Wine: Top 5 To Consider in 2022

Since they cannot be matured, sulfite free wines will not give the depth and density of flavor that aged wines do. Still, a couple of light-bodied wines taste nice even with no sulfites. So if you are sensitive to sulfite, these are some ideal options for you:

1.      Frey Agriculturist Organic Blanc

This stimulating white blend from California is the best dry and fruity balance. With hints of butter, pineapple, peach, and melon, it goes well with light seafood dishes or grilled fish.

2.      Coturri Winery

Settled in a small settlement in the Sonoma hills, all the wines from Coturri Winery are natural with no added sulfites. As a result, their blends are far beyond the bar when it comes to wine without sulfites.

3.      Usual Red Blend

Usual Wines come in 187ML, equal to one big glass or two small glasses of champagne for when you expect your wine but don’t want to be drawn to excessiveness. Their red without sulfites blend is bright and fruity with black cherry, raspberry, and fennel notes.

4.      Domaine Valentin Zusslin Crémant Brut

According to this Alsace vintner, they do without the sulfites when the grape is 100 percent, proving their promise of quality. As a result, this sparkling dry wine is crispy and mineral yet fruity.

5. Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon Beaujolais

Another French winemaker, Marcel Lapierre, made organic sulfite free wine. This full-bodied wine is spicy and extraordinarily multipart for a wine without sulfites.

Conclusion

Despite everything, sulfites in wine are nothing to worry about. We consume them considerably from other diet sources in our daily routine. You won’t have to bother about makers excessively adding it in their bottles as it can only bring them a funky-tasting product and a bad reputation with no profit at all.

We hope you find this article helpful. Should you have any questions or want to share your experience with any of the sulfite free wine explored in this article, don’t hesitate to share with our community of readers via the comment section. We’ll be glad to hear from you!