Re: Campden tablets
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:21 pm
Hi luvraspberry - lovely signature photo.
But I have to take issue with this ...
"And I heard the same thing from the wine dealer...in most European countries they don't use or add sulphites while making the wine which is why you had no problem in those countries."
It's amazing how many wine dealers will tell you this, no matter where you live in the world. It simply isn't true. The vast majority of commercial winemakers in most European countries DO use the stuff - but most of the world outside Europe doesn't have the same regulatory requirements on the declaration of content. So - the point I made above - just because it ain't on the label doesn't mean it was never added. But "added" and "present" are not the same thing.
What may be there - because any added metabisulphite, no matter where in the world you are, has long since been transformed into other things - is sulphur dioxide in solution. Here lies the old tradition of opening a bottle of wine and allowing it to "breathe". It doesn't do any such thing, but it does allow time for the sulphur dioxide to dissipate.
Mike
Oh - historical sulphite use. The Greeks and Romans didn't use it, but they drank a lot of sour wine - and didn't use wooden barrels for wine storage or transport. As the Medieval period advanced, the practice of burning sulphur candles within wooden wine casks became widespread. This impregnated the casks - and so the ensuing contents - with sulphur dioxide.
But I have to take issue with this ...
"And I heard the same thing from the wine dealer...in most European countries they don't use or add sulphites while making the wine which is why you had no problem in those countries."
It's amazing how many wine dealers will tell you this, no matter where you live in the world. It simply isn't true. The vast majority of commercial winemakers in most European countries DO use the stuff - but most of the world outside Europe doesn't have the same regulatory requirements on the declaration of content. So - the point I made above - just because it ain't on the label doesn't mean it was never added. But "added" and "present" are not the same thing.
What may be there - because any added metabisulphite, no matter where in the world you are, has long since been transformed into other things - is sulphur dioxide in solution. Here lies the old tradition of opening a bottle of wine and allowing it to "breathe". It doesn't do any such thing, but it does allow time for the sulphur dioxide to dissipate.
Mike
Oh - historical sulphite use. The Greeks and Romans didn't use it, but they drank a lot of sour wine - and didn't use wooden barrels for wine storage or transport. As the Medieval period advanced, the practice of burning sulphur candles within wooden wine casks became widespread. This impregnated the casks - and so the ensuing contents - with sulphur dioxide.