Should You be Concerned that Wine Contains Sulfites?

As noted in a recent posting, U.S. wine label regulations require wines that have a level of 10 parts per million (PPM) or greater of sulfur dioxide to be labeled with the declaration “Contains Sulfites.”  And if you pay close attention to wine labels,  nearly all U.S. wines include this warning.

Let's start by putting things in perspective. If you are concerned about wine because it contains sulfites, then you also need to be concerned about many other foods and drinks. While wines can have 10-350 PPM of sulfites, canned soups, packaged meats, bottled lemon juice and frozen juices can have 500 - 700 PPM of sulfites. Dried potatoes, as well as french fries, hash browns and other potato dishes made from dried potatoes, can have up to 1,900 PPM of sulfites. And dried fruits can have more than 3,500 PPM of sulfites; that's 100 times the levels in wines!  So, sulfites are everywhere.

Why then are sulfites so pervasive?  Simple. Sulfur is a very good preservative. It has been used to keep food and drink from spoiling for thousands of years.  And today, winemakers depend on sulfur (as sulfur dioxide gas or in powdered form) to keep their grapes and wines from rapidly going bad.  Sulfites can be added anywhere in the process. They may be  sprayed on the vines to act as a fungicide, added to the grapes as they are crushed or added just before the wine is bottled.  Winemakers consider sulfites essential to producing wine.

If you are one of a very small handful of people (the FDA estimates that 1% of the general population has sensitivity to sulfites), you are most likely to react to sulfites with asthma attacks.  And this is very real for some people.  Those who are allergic to sulfites do need to be concerned about sulfites in all food and drinks.  But, for the rest of the general population, sulfites should not be of great concern.  Medical research seems to show that sulfites have nothing to do with wine headaches.  But, they are still not sure what it is about wines that causes headaches other than too much consumption.

There are some wine producers specifically making organic sulfite-free wines. But they must take special care while making and storing the wine to ensure that it does not go bad.

So, yes, if you have allergies or are asthmatic, you need to be concerned  about sulfites in wines. If you are sensitive to sulfites and love wines, then you'll need to seek out producers of organic wines and confirm that the wine label does not have the sulfite warning. And be careful when buying foreign wines. Australia is the only other country required to identify sulfites in wine.  All other country's wines will generally contain sulfites, but the label will not warn you. But foreign wine labelling regulations is a subject for another time. In the meantime, grab a bottle, pour yourself a glass and raise it to all the wine producers that are working hard to ensure that you get great wines that have not spoiled by the time you pull the cork. Cheers!

What Can be Learned from a Wine Label?

When looking for a bottle of wine it's easy to be persuaded by the label.  But, too often, the persuasion comes from a fancy graphic on the label or a cute name.  There is actually a lot of good written information on the label of a wine bottle.  For this time, let's look at wine labels in the United States.

First, the wine type.  Although mandatory, the wine type may or may not be specific to the type of grapes used to produce the wine.  But, the label will tell you if the wine is a varietal (made from a specific grape) or a blend.  If a wine label specifies a varietal, such as a Chardonnay or a Cabernet Sauvignon, it must be produced by using at least 75% of that grape type. Otherwise, wine producers refer to them as a "Blend" or "Table Wine."

Next, the location where the wine is from.  If the wine label refers to a state or county, at least 75% of the grapes used to produce the wine must have come from that location. Except in California, where if the label states "California" then 100% of the grapes must have come from within the state.  Then there are specific appellations or AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) such as 'Napa' or 'Sonoma.'  If a wine label states a specific AVA, then at least 85% of the grapes must have come from that region.

The vintage, or year when the grapes were harvested, is actually optional on US wine labels.  If a year is stated, then at least 85% of the wine must come from the harvest date shown.  But, if the wine is labeled with a specific AVA, then 95% of the grapes must come from the stated harvest date. The date on a wine label has nothing to do with when it was bottled or released, it simply refers to when the grapes were picked.

Then there are the 'special designations' on a bottle of wine. Words such as "Reserve" or "Private Reserve" may appear on the label, but there is no regulation on these terms in the US.  So, while a winemaker may use the term, it may or may not be anything more than a marketing tool.  But, if you do find that a winemaker produces a particular wine, say a Merlot,  and then produces a Merlot with a "Reserve" designation on the label, it generally means that it is higher quality or finer wine.

Estate wines are those where the wine is labeled "Estate Bottled." This means that the winery grew 100% of the grapes on its owned land, and the winery did all the wine making process (crushing, fermenting and bottling) on the same land.

Alcohol content is required by law to appear on the label.  And, a lot can be determined from this number. Generally, low alcohol content wines (10% or less) are going to be sweeter and higher alcohol content wines (12-14%) are going to be dryer.  So if you have a preference in the amount of sweetness in your wines, pay particular attention to this number.

Then sulfites. If wines contain sulfites, it must be stated on the label.  And generally, all wines are going to have sulfites because it's a preservative.  But, it is used in extremely low levels (approximately 50 parts per million). So, these level are usually undetectable or will go away with brief decanting. 

There's a quick overview of the technical terms on a wine label.  In future articles we'll dive into more specifics in each of these areas.  So get out there, read a few labels with this new found information, pick out a bottle of wine with either a fancy label or one from a great AVA such as Alexander Valley, and enjoy it. Cheers!

Taking a Bottle of Wine to a Party

Oh boy!  You've been invited to a party and asked to take a bottle of wine.  Now what?  You don't think you know a thing about wine but are expected to show up and not embarrass yourself.  Well, fear not!  

There are several things to consider. First, who will be attending the party. If this is an invite to the bosses house for dinner, that's one thing. If it's a after-work happy hour, a beach party or picnic, that's another.  The primary thing to consider is who you are buying the wine for. 

So, let's start from the easiest position to be in.  If you are invited to an after work happy hour, a beach party or picnic with a big group, don't fret.  Just about any bottle will do.  The point will be to enjoy some food and wine and have a good time.  Show up with a chilled bottle of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon  Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, a Rosé or White Zinfandel and your bottle should be a hit.  

Next, if you are invited to someone's house for a big party, whether it be an open house or a birthday party, again it's hard to go wrong.  The big group will just be looking for a bottle that can be opened and enjoyed while socializing at the party.  Along with the previously mentioned white wines and rosés, you might venture into the reds wines and consider some popular Red Blends, Zinfandel, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. Inexpensive versions of these can easily be found in the $10 range. And, like the beach party or picnic, it will be easy to introduce your wine with little threat.

Next comes the smaller couples party where you are to take a bottle of wine. Now your wine will be noticed. If you know the hosts well, ask what type of wine they'd like for you to bring.  They know what food they are going to be serving and should give you some direction on a white versus a red.  Otherwise, show up with a nice bottle of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Merlot in the $15 price range.

A harder situation is when the boss invites you over for dinner or you are in a social situation where you are trying to make a strong positive impression.  Even if you weren't asked to bring a bottle of wine, you should show up with one.  If you are trying to impress, plan on shopping by price and find a nice bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, or Zinfandel) in the $20 price range.  Yes, that may be a bit pricey compared to what you would usually spend, but you want to impress.  And, spending a few extra dollars will be well worth it.

Finally, if you've been invited to someone's house where you know they are big wine lovers, you want to be looking at the upper shelves at the 'nice' wines.  If you can go $20 to $40, do so.  And focus on the red wines. A nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah or a fine red blend should impress. 

Oh, and whether it's a picnic party or a small gathering, be sure to look around at what other wines show up.  It will give you a better sense for next time. And, you just might want to drop off your bottle and try someone else's wine that you've never tried before.  

So, boldly go out there, pick up a bottle of wine to share and, most of all, don't worry. Your wine will be appreciated and rapidly consumed.  Cheers!

Choosing a Red Wine Along the Aisle

So, we've examined the wine aisle from the higher quality, higher priced wines on the top shelf to the lower quality, lower priced wines down around your feet, and then looked down the aisle at the white wines.  Now lets look at the red wines.  These can be can be a bit more difficult as you are getting started. Red wines can range from sweet, to light and fruity, and to big and bold with earthy flavors. 

The sweeter red wines are most often found in the bulk wines. Don't be afraid to try these out. You may find large jugs of red wine or boxes of wine.  This may be the place start if you prefer white wines that are slightly sweet.

On the fruity side, there are wonderful wines with flavors of cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry.  Now these aren't going to taste like a berry soda, the flavors in wines are much more subtle. But as you explore these you'll start to be able to distinguish the flavors.  Fruity red wines include Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Barbera.  Another aspect of red wines that you may immediately experience is that they make your mouth feel dry.  This is the tannin in the wine that results from the grape skins and stems.  This dry-mouth sensation is similar to what you might experience when drinking a strong cup of tea.  So, start with some of the softer, less tannic, reds like Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel. Then, work your way into Merlot and finally to Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah and Mourvedre.

Then there are the herbal, earthy red wines. These have description of having flavors of black pepper, clay, forest, smoke, leather and even tobacco.  Again, these flavors are more subtle than they sound.  These herbal reds include many of the wines from France and Italy and include Chianti, Beaujolais, Barolo, Barbaresco, Montepulciano, Cotes du Rhone, Saint-Emilio and the Rhone wines.  These too can range from soft to tannic. On the soft, or less tannic side, are Cotes du Rhone, Saint-Emilio and the Rhone wines. The higher tannic reds include Barbaresco, Chianti, Barolo and Medoc. 

So confidently take a step forward and choose a bottle of red wine. You are sure to pick one full of flavor that can either be enjoyed by itself or with food.  And continue to enjoy your wine journey. Cheers!

How to Pick a White Wine on the Aisle

Last time we took a look at the typical wine arrangements in a large retail store, with the high-end wines on the top shelf, the mid-grade wines in the middle shelves and the low-end wine down at foot level.  Now, if you've zeroed in on the middle shelves, that still can leave you with rows of wines that run from the front of the store to the back of the store. "Now what?" you ask yourself.

Well, along those middle shelves you are probably going to find five types of wines; reds, whites, roses, sparkling wines and dessert wines.  Add, you may know that when you're out at a restaurant or visiting a friend, you've had some white wine that you like and you've had some reds that are OK.  But, the white wines and red wine each take up nearly half the aisle. So, let's focus in on picking a bottle of white wine. 

As stated in a previous posting, drink what you like.  Do you like a light, slightly sweet white wine?  Well, you have several choices including Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc and Gewurztraminer.  These are usually easy white wines to start with.  Or, if you are looking for something that isn't on the sweet side, the un-oaked Chardonnays may be a great place for you.  The un-oaked Chardonnays (often noted on the label) will be light-bodied and crisp, with emphasis on fruit flavors of apple, pear and citrus. Or, the Chardonnays that are aged in oak (and most are to some extent) have bigger body and flavors that add vanilla, butterscotch, toast and spice to the fruit flavors (and no, they don't add things like vanilla or butterscotch to the wine, but that's a subject for another time).  And, the heavily oaked Chardonnays can become rich, creamy and buttery.

So next time you are standing there bewildered on the wine aisle, look up, look down, and then look across and pick a wine that fits in with where you are in your journey of exploring the grand world of wines.  Cheers!