In Part I of this series, I provided a definition of sulfites or sulfur dioxide (a chemical compound present to some degree during the winemaking process which acts as a preservative) and also discussed the potential health problems that some people may experience as a result of drinking wines with high levels of sulfites, including allergic reactions, headaches and respiratory problems, to name a few. As a result, some people wonder if there is such a thing as a sulfite free wine which will allow them to continue to enjoy drinking wine without suffering health related side effects.
Sulfite free (or organic) wines are a bit of a misnomer; no wine can ever be considered 100% sulfite free because minimal levels of sulfites occur naturally during the process of wine fermentation. However, current FDA regulations require that both domestic and imported wines that contain more than 10 ppm (parts per million) of sulfur dioxide must contain the statement “Contains Sulfites” on the label. This disclosure requirement was designed to protect individuals that may be allergic to sulfites (an estimated 1% of the population); people with asthma are most at risk. Most wines contain sulfite levels of about 125 ppm; the legal U.S. maximum is 350 ppm. Wines without chemical additives (with naturally occuring levels of sulfites) will generally weigh in at around 10-20 ppm.
For those who want to limit their sulfite levels, organic wines are probably their best bet because, by definition, organic wines are produced from organically grown grapes without the addition of chemical additives. So if you are searching for wines with the lowest sulfite levels, choose a dry red wine like a Zinfandel, Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon followed by dry white wines such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc as a middle ground choice. On the other hand, sweet white dessert wines have the highest sulfite levels followed closely by blush wines and semi-sweet white wines.
Here’s to hoping that your wine drinking experience will be enhanced by the information I have provided in this blog.
Cheers!!!
Diane Aksten
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