I was showing my mine area to someone the other day and while going
through various chemicals ("this is Campden, this is..."), I was asked
"What's Meta for?". I answered "it's to make an analogy." I was
stared at funny, and then I got a groan, though I don't think they
believed anything I said after that

So my real question is, did the winemakers shorten it to meta (as
opposed to any other shorthand name) just so everyone got a chance to
deliver this pun once?

Rob