I would love to read about it if you dig anything up. I have always
wondered how they physically were using SO2 in early wine making.

Tom
"Greg Cook" > wrote in message
...
> On 7/30/04 12:54 PM, in article , "Tom"
> > wrote:
>
> > Maybe a silly question
> >
> > OK, I understand that sulfites have been used throughout history in wine
> > making but I have been curious as to how they did it. We have access to
> > purified refined versions of sulfites that are ancestors did not. Now
> > sulfur wicks and candles in barrels I can understand but meta
bisulfites?
> > How would great great great grandpa Joe do it it the old country? Or go
> > back further how about the greeks?
> >
> > Who's the resident chemical /historian?
> >
> > Tom
> >
> >
>
> It is in the burning of sulfur that you produce sulfur dioxide (SO2). That
> is the preservative in wine. SO2 is in equilibrium with metabisulfites in
> solution (in wine). Most home winemakers use readily available
> metabisulfites in powdered form to add SO2 to wine as it isn't practical
to
> have SO2 gas tanks in your home. However, many wineries utilize the gas
> itself. I guess the old timers used to achieve SO2/Sulfite solutions by
> burning sulfur and passing the gas through the wine or other acid
solution.
> I'll see if I can did up more information.
>
>
> --
> Greg Cook
> http://homepage.mac.com/gregcook/Wine
> http://homepage.mac.com/gregcook/aws
>
> (remove spamblocker from my email)
>