"Doug" wrote in message
ps.com...

What kind of gas S02 ???? Is it a powder that you mix with water ???

Moe

Moe - The powder that is normally used with wines is either potassium
meta-bisulfite, or sodium meta-bisulfite. Either can be used to
sanitize equipment, etc., but generally pot. meta. is preferred if
adding directly to the wine. The active component is sulfite (S03, I
believe), but it is usually referred to in winemaking circles as SO2.
SO2 by itself is a gas, if I recall correctly from high-school
chemistry, but SO2 gas is not used in winemaking (as far as I have ever
heard, anyway).

Doug,
Your statement that SO2 gas is not used in winemaking is accurate so far as
home winemakers are concerned, but many small and practically all large
commercial wineries use sulfur dioxide gas from pressure cylinders.
--
Lum
Del Mar, California, USA


Rather, small amounts of meta-bisulfite are used, to
provide the necessary sulfite level to discourage wild yeast and
bacteria, and to prevent oxidation of the wine.

Doug