What are Sulfites?

Sulfites are particles of Sulfur Dioxide which have always been used as an additive in the winemaking process for its anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties. A percentage of the population experiences sensitivity to sulfites, particularly asthmatics and people with severe allergies. Therefore a low-sulfite wine means that they can still enjoy the pleasures of wine without concerning themselves with the physical drawbacks. But a wine made without the preservative of added sulfites, is chemically more fragile and more subject to spoilage. Sulfites are also naturally occurring; therefore a 'sulfite-free' wine can't exist. For this reason, even a wine made organically is only a low-sulfite wine and not sulfite-free. Today's organic vintners have a wide array of technologies available to them, allowing them to restrict the amount of sulfur dioxide in wines to a negligible amount, while still preventing oxidation, controlling bacterial growth, and stabilising the wine.