Low Sulphite Wines. Is there really such a thing?

If you are like many people with a sulphite sensitivity, and you just happen to enjoy a glass of wine, finding the right wine can prove challenging.  

Unfortunately, all wine naturally contains a very small amount of sulphites because it's a natural byproduct of the fermentation process.
But some wine makers also add additional sulphites as a preservative and this is usually what causes problems if you have a sensitivity.  Unfortunately, there's technically no such thing as completely sulphite free wine. So if you're extremely sensitive avoidance might just be your only option.

But there is actually some good news in all this too.  Red wine typically contains lower amounts than white and there are "organic" and "no added sulphite" red and white wines available.  Just look for these labels on the bottle. So depending on your sensitivity and symptoms (headache, flushing, stuffed up, stomach upset, etc..) you may find you are able to tolerate one type of wine better than another.
(As a side note. Beer like wine naturally contains small amounts of sulphites and some types of Sake and Vermouth can also contain them.)

There is also such a thing as a “Wine Purifier” that can help remove sulphites, sediment, aerate and apparently help improve the taste. (Basically it's a devise that allows you to pour the wine through a filter.)  There are a few different types and depending on what your needs are you can select what works best for you. This helpful article wineturtle.com reviews some of these products and has some great information if you would like to learn more about wine purifiers.

In my research I found the best detailed explanation of Sulphites in wine is from * foodsmatter.com when they quoted  * goodwineonline.co.uk.
"Sulphites, in tiny amounts are a natural bi-product of the fermentation process – but these are miniscule quantities of ’bound’ sulphites, and harmless to virtually everybody, even sulphite intolerant people.

Additional sulphur is usually added at different stages of the wine making process. The major purpose of this ‘free’ sulphur is to seek out and react with oxygen molecules in the wine before the oxygen can ‘oxidise’ the wine and ruin it. This free sulphur is very aggressive and does this very quickly.

Free sulphur also combines with other compounds in the wine such as sugars. Additionally it has anti-bacterial properties killing off unwanted bacteria and yeasts, and is also useful in controlling malolactic fermentation. Therefore it is very useful to the winemaker and continues to be widely used.

When this ‘free’ sulphur combines with another compound or molecule, it undergoes a chemical transformation and becomes ‘bound’ sulphur which is inert, and DOES NOT trigger an allergic reaction in sulphite intolerant people – logical really as it can only react with another molecule once!

However, winemakers like to leave sufficient free sulphur in their wine at the bottling stage to continue to hunt out free oxygen, sugars and bacteria over the coming months ensuring the wine remains in good condition. Therefore they calculate the exact quantity required to react with expected oxygen levels and still leave the desired amount of free sulphur roaming around to be on the safe side.

This free sulphur CAN and DOES cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. This free sulphur is very aggressive and, unable to find any remaining oxygen to react with in the wine, it finds it in your body when you drink it!

The body’s natural defense system combats these sulphites in a variety of ways, one of which is to release histamines and, as in most allergic reactions, it is the histamines that cause the allergic symptoms – not the sulphur."

Here are a couple of sites that offer lists of "Organic", and "No Added Sulphite" wines.

LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) offers a list of approved Canadian Organic products. lcbo.com
List of "no added sulfites" (US site). organicwineexchange.com



sources: 
mywinepal.com/2018/04/02/sulfites-or-other-unwanted-compounds-in-your-wine-try-ullo/
verywellhealth.com/alcohol-allergies-and-intolerance-1324211
bestallergysites.com/alcoholic-beverages-that-contain-top-allergens
*   foodsmatter.com/allergy_intolerance/sulphites/articles/sulphite_free_wine.html
*   goodwineonline.co.uk/?SID=5cf821a46057f3a0f17e431a955d70aa