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Looking at the labels, you can see that most grape drinks contain sulfur dioxide. Moreover, it is present not only in affordable wines of the budget category, but also in elite products.
As part of alcohol, this ingredient is usually signed as “E220”. The following designations can serve as an analogue of the inscription: “oxide / dioxide / sulfur dioxide”, “SO₂”, “Sulphur Dioxide”, “sulfuric anhydride”.
Why is sulfur dioxide (E220) added to wine
Sulfur dioxide has been used in the food industry since the Middle Ages. For the first time its antimicrobial properties were noticed in ancient Rome.
Winemakers have long treated wine barrels with sulfur and added its oxide to drinks. The additive was also used to preserve other products. When the toxic properties of sulfur dioxide were noticed, bans on its use began to be introduced. However, over time, winemakers returned to the inclusion of additives in drinks, determining the safe dosage of the substance.
At the moment, a full-fledged safe replacement for this ingredient has not been found.
Today, sulfur dioxide is used not only in the manufacture of alcohol, but also in the production of juices, dried fruits, sweets, etc. It is used in various forms: in a gaseous state, in the form of a powder or solution.
In winemaking, E220 is indispensable at the following stages of production:
When harvesting and pressing berries.
During the fermentation and fermentation of the drink.
During the bottling process.
Depending on the situation, the addition of sulfur dioxide stops fermentation, prevents the formation of acetic acid, stabilizes the taste and color of wine, prolongs the shelf life of the drink, and disinfects containers and production equipment.
In the absence of an antioxidant, alcohol quickly turns sour and spoils. Unlike grape products, strong alcohol does not require the inclusion of such an additive, since it has an antimicrobial effect in itself.
How does sulfur dioxide affect the body?
In minimal concentrations, the substance does not harm health. Significant excess of permissible norms is dangerous.
With an overdose of a preservative, a variety of negative phenomena can be observed: metabolic and digestive disorders, allergic reactions, headaches, heart palpitations, and other disorders.
Inhalation of sulfur dioxide can lead to serious poisoning, including pulmonary edema.
However, in the amounts included in wine, sulfur dioxide is completely harmless. It is completely excreted from the body with urine and does not accumulate in the tissues. The only ones who may feel unwell when tasting drinks containing E220 are asthmatics, people with hypersensitivity to this component, disorders of gastric acidity and kidney pathologies.
Non-compliance with consumption standards is considered dangerous: if you drink more than 3-4 glasses of wine, the concentration of the substance will exceed the permissible level and may affect your well-being.
Are there wines without E220
Sulfur dioxide is present in acceptable amounts in most wines. The only exceptions are the so-called biodynamic (organic) drinks, although they also contain insignificant concentrations of the substance.
The fact is that sulfur dioxide is produced in the process of natural fermentation, so it is unrealistic to find wine that does not contain this compound at all.
But you can buy drinks with a minimum inclusion of E220: they include products with the USDA Organic and Exocert badges.
The most famous manufacturers are Zind-Humbrecht and Leroy (France), Kalleske (Australia), Gotsa (Georgia), Gravner, Riecine and Magma Rosso (Italy).
Such wines are allowed to drink even for people allergic to sulfur additives.
If you want to buy ordinary wine with a lower content of E220, you should focus on red dry drinks.
In white and dessert products, sulfites are present in greater quantities, and the maximum amount of sulfur oxide includes wines from berries affected by noble mold (bortrite). Before sampling, it is recommended to let the drink “breathe”: some of the harmful substances will evaporate from the glass.
Relevance: 25.01.2019
Tags: wine and vermouth