#5. Sulfites
Question: I am worried about sulfites in wine. Do all wines
have sulfites? Will they give me a headache?
Answer:
All wines contain sulfites (sulfur dioxide) as a natural by-product
of fermentation, and very few contain less than the 20 parts per
million of sulfites that requires a contains sulfites label under
FDA rules for wine. Certain wine companies used to make a wine labeled
sulfite free , but quickly took them off the market because of problems
with deterioration. Without a minimum amount of sulfites usually
60 ppm total natural and added wine will oxidize quickly and turn
brown and possibly become prey to bacterial spoilage since sulfites
prevent this. Even organic wines have sulfites from the fermentation
even if they don’t add more. I don’t know of any wine that is sulfite
free.
The wines that have the least amount of sulfites added, however,
are good, dry robust red wines because they have so much natural
tannin from their black grape skins as a preservative that they
don’t need to add as much sulfites. Wines that have the most sulfites
added are wines coolers and bulk processed light white wines. You
can sometimes smell the sulfur --rotten egg or burnt match smell--in
these types of wine from the sulfites. Too much sulfites ruins the
aroma of a good or great wine, so winemakers never want to add too
much.
Remember, sulfites do not cause headaches rather they restrict
or constrict nasal passages, which can affect asthmatics or borderline
asthmatics. Our own bodies produce sulfites every day, and many
foods contain sulfites some more than wine, such as concentrated
lemon and lime juice.
#7. Wine in Moderation
Question: How much wine is wine in moderation ?
Answer: Our own Dept. of Agriculture promotes a diet
that includes wine in moderation. They define that to mean one 4-ounce
glass per day for women and up to two 4-ounce glasses per day for
men. The difference in gender is actually a difference in average
body size. However, they limit the total number of glasses of wine
per week to about 5 for women and 7 or 8 for men. Even I don’t drink
wine every single day!
#10. Wine Storage Question: Can I use my basement
to store wines? It is pretty cool.
Answer:
Your basement could be very good for wine storage. The recommended
temperature is in the range of 55-65 degrees F., and the recommended
humidity is in the range of 60-75%.
What really does damage to wine are bright, fluorescent lights;
mold & odors; vibration, and extremes of temperature if the temperature
goes below 40 degrees F. you could cause tartrate crystals to precipitate
out of your wines, and above 75 degrees F. you would age (i.e. oxidize)
your wines more quickly.
