I once had a boss who asked me to recommend a great bottle of wine for him and his wife. When I asked if they are typically red or white lovers, he said that he loves his whites but his doctor said there’s too much sulfites in white wine so he should be drinking red wine.

This got me thinking about what chemical differences there are in different wine varieties. Is it just the colour and taste or is there something much deeper that the usual consumer wouldn’t know about.

What are sulfites in wine?

The term sulfites is an inclusive term for sulfur dioxide (SO2), a preservative that’s widely used in wine making (and most food industries) for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. SO2 plays an important role in preventing oxidization and maintaining a wine’s freshness.

According to a lot of articles that I read, sufites are not harmful to your body, in fact many processed foods contain them, so you have been consuming them all along without even knowing it. Other articles also say that certain types of sensitive smells can detect the taste of sulfur in wine but many of us don’t. If I think of the smell of sulfur, it’s a pretty horrid smell like something rotten so if I ever tasted that in my food, I think I would know and not want to drink it at all.

There is hope for those that are looking to go sulfur free.

A lot of people who suffer from asthma apparently will have a reaction to sulfites in wine. So they are looking for alternatives which the South African market has started catering to.

Popular retail chain Woolworths has launched a sulfur free range that I would like to personally try. I don’t have a sulfur intolerance, but I am just curious as to how it would taste.

Eat out published this article about organic wines which I assume is sulfur free wines.

But before you go all crazy looking for reasons to change to sulfur free wine, thekitchn.com has perfectly laid out 4 great myths that I, personally, agree with.

Myth #1: Sulfites in Wine Cause Headaches

Medical research is not definitive on the relationship between sulfites and headaches. There are many other compounds in wine such as histamines and tannins that are more likely connected to the headache effect (not to mention alcohol!).

Myth #2: Red Wine Has Extra Sulfites, Thus It Causes Headaches

In the EU the maximum levels of sulfur dioxide that a wine can contain are 210 ppm for white wine, 400 ppm for sweet wines — and 160 ppm for red wine. Quite similar levels apply in the U.S., Australia and around the world.

Why do red wines have less sulfites? They contain tannin, which is a stabilizing agent, and almost all red wines go through malolactic fermentation. Therefore, less sulfur dioxide is needed to protect the wine during wine making and maturation.

Myth #3: Wine Should Be Avoided Because It Contains Sulfites

Another surprising fact is that wine contains about ten times less sulfites than most dried fruits, which can have levels up to 1000 ppm. So if you regularly eat dried fruit and do not have any adverse reaction you are probably not allergic to sulfites.

While the figures I have stated are maximum SO2 levels, discussions with many winemakers over the years would lead me to believe that in practice, sulfite levels are generally well below the maximum permitted limits.

Myth #4: Sulfites Are Inherently Unnatural

Apart from the potential allergic reaction, many people are against sulfites, because they feel they are an unnatural addition when making wine. While that view is valid, it is important to remember that sulfites are also a natural by-product of the yeast metabolism during fermentation. So even if you do not add any additional SO2, your wine will still contain sulfites.

A better understanding of how sulfur dioxide breaks down and binds during winemaking, better winery hygiene, and more careful viticultural practices to ensure healthy grapes (i.e no rot) have all greatly helped to reduce the need for SO2 additions during winemaking. Today, there are many winemakers who refrain from adding any SO2 until after the fermentation is complete.

The next time you buy a bottle of wine, check the label. It may contain information on sulfites so you can choose which one you prefer.