Everyone seems to say that sulfites are a must. What are your options
for people that are sensitive to sulfites?

On 8 Oct 2005 08:59:24 -0700, "Sportinus" wrote:

Everyone seems to say that sulfites are a must. What are your options
for people that are sensitive to sulfites?

Here I am repeating myself. grin In case you missed my response in
the beer wort thread.

You can make a wine without adding sulfites, but it should be consumed
realtively quickly or it will oxidize. Possibly synthetic corks would
reduce the oxidation (I believe that they seal better)..

There will still be sulfites in the wine from the fermentation but the
level willl be reduced. Generally home-made wines have lower sulfite
levels than commercial wines anyway.

Consider different sanitizers, eg Diversol (half hour soak minimum),
or iodophor (any iodine concerns?). However, the sulfite remaining
from sanitizing with sulfite should be very minimal.

Option 2: Drink beer or water?? grin

Warning 1: ascorbic acid is sometimes given as a substitute for
sulfites. My understanding from a wine chemist is that ascorbic acid
causes rapid oxidation when not used in conjunction with sulfites (I
think I got t hat right).

Warning 2: to sweeten a wine requires sorbate to stop the yeast. If
you use sorbate without sulfites, a geranium smell results.

Steve

"Steve Waller" wrote:

Warning 2: to sweeten a wine requires sorbate to stop the yeast. If
you use sorbate without sulfites, a geranium smell results.

That's not quite right. The geranium smell comes from malolactic
fermentation in a sorbated wine. It doesn't matter whether the wine is
sweet or dry.

Sorbate is used to prevent fermentation in sweet wines, but it needs to be
used in conjunction with sulfite to accomplish this.

Tom S

If you want to make sweet wine without sulfites or sorbate, you most
certainly can do it. But when you bottle it, do not use corks. Fit each
bottle with an airlock.

I do NOT speak from experience. ;o)

Ray

"Tom S" wrote in message
...

"Steve Waller" wrote:

Warning 2: to sweeten a wine requires sorbate to stop the yeast. If
you use sorbate without sulfites, a geranium smell results.

That's not quite right. The geranium smell comes from malolactic
fermentation in a sorbated wine. It doesn't matter whether the wine is
sweet or dry.

Sorbate is used to prevent fermentation in sweet wines, but it needs to be
used in conjunction with sulfite to accomplish this.

Tom S