Sulfites: What are they and what do they do?

Q.  What are sulfites?
A. Sulfites, or sulfur dioxide (SO2), are the salts of sulfurous acids. They are a commonly used preservative found in foods, alcoholic drinks and even medications.[1] Sulfites occur naturally in table and wine grapes, as well as in all fermented foods and beverages. Sulfites have both fungicidal and antioxidant properties.

Q.  Why are they used in the making of wine?
A. Winemakers have historically added sulfur dioxide or sulfites to wine to help protect against damage to the wine by oxygen. It has been part of the craft of winemaking, much like yeast is used for bread.  An old world practice, after the grapes are harvested and crushed, sulfur dioxide is used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and wild yeasts… as well as to prevent spoilage or oxidation in the final wine.[2]  Sulfites are also naturally-produced during the fermentation process of winemaking.

Q.  Should I be concerned about sulfites in wine?
A. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that one out of a hundred people is sulfite-sensitive, and five percent of those who have asthma are also at risk of suffering an adverse reaction to the substance.[3] It is important to note that sulfites naturally occur in several other fruits besides grapes. Wine writer Dan Berger has noted that “…you can get as much sulfites from one dried apple as from four full bottles of wine.”

Q.  So, the headache I get when I drink red wine – is that because of sulfites?
A. Probably not, as red wine typically has lower levels of sulfites than white wine. Sulfites do not cause headaches, and the reason for red wine headaches that some people complain about has not yet been discovered.[4]

Q.  What are Organic Vintners practices in terms of sulfites?
A. Organic Vintners wines are all made with 100% certified organic grapes, currently sourced from 11 countries.  We believe in the old-world winemaking tradition of adding low-levels of sulfites during winemaking in order to preserve quality and ensure the wine is shelf stable. All of Organic Vintners wines are low in sulfites containing no more than 100 parts per million (ppm) of sulfites.[5]

Q.  What U.S. regulations govern the use of sulfites in wine?
A. Since July 9, 1987 the U.S. government has required the words “contains sulfites” on labels of all wine sold in the U.S. which contain 10 parts per million (ppm) or more of sulfites. Furthermore, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) states that wines cannot contain more than 350 parts per million of sulfites.[6]                                                            (see reverse)

Q.  Are there “sulfite-free” wines?
A. No.  While some wines carry a “sulfite-free” label, most experts agree this claim is not feasible. According to WineMaker magazine[7]:  “ It is impossible to make a sulfite-free wine, because wine yeast produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) during the fermentation process.”   Additionally, The Food Marketing Institute states “Even wine marketed as “sulfite-free” contain small amounts of naturally occurring sulfites.”

Q.  Does organic wine contain sulfites?
A. Organic wines, like all wines, contain naturally-occurring levels of sulfites. While USDA National Organic Program regulations prohibit the use of sulfites in food products, two exceptions exist for wine:

1) USDA “ORGANIC”: To call it ‘organic wine’ and use the USDA certified organic seal on the label, no sulfites may be added.

2) USDA “MADE WITH ORGANICALLY GROWN GRAPES”: When low levels of sulfites are traditionally added to the winemaking process, the wines may be called “made with organically grown grapes” on the label if the total level of sulfites is Iess than 100 ppm[8].

All of Organic Vintners wines qualify for the category of USDA National Organic Program “Made with organically grown grapes” designation.

It is noteworthy that the U.S. is the only wine-producing country in the world that has a sulfite limit for organic claims. In other words, foreign organic wines have no sulfite restrictions because it is assumed that low-levels of sulfites are essential to the winemaking process.

Q.  How can I tell how many sulfites are in a bottle of wine I’m about to buy?
A. The honest answer is that you can’t determine the levels of sulfites from the wine bottle alone.  However, if the wine makes a “made with organic grapes” claim on the label, then you know the wine is less than 100 ppm.  If the wine carries the USDA certified organic seal, then you know it is less than 20 ppm.  As stated above, labels that claim ‘sulfite-free’ are misleading as all wines have naturally occurring sulfites.

Q.  What is Organic Vintners view on sulfites in wine?
A. Organic Vintners is dedicated to premium quality wine made with certified organic grapes. Our entire business only works if the wines are shelf-stable and their inherent quality is deftly preserved. For this reason, we fervently believe in sourcing wines made in the traditional and old-world manner, with low levels of sulfites added in winemaking. It’s a practice that is proven over centuries of winemaking. That said, we also believe in moderation and balance, and this is why all of our wines are well below 100 ppm of sulfites. 

Quite honestly, we believe the USDA regulations for organic wine have inhibited the growth of domestic wines made with organic grapes by disallowing sulfites in wine-making.  We are working to lobby for USDA wine regulations for organic that are more in keeping with foreign standards for organic wine.