Organic Wines, Low Preservative Wines and Preservative Free Wines
Low Preservative Wines and Preservative Free Wines
The word preservative refers to protecting the wine from microbial contamination or spoilage by unwanted bacteria, moulds and yeast. These unwanted bacteria, moulds and yeast either naturally occur on the grapes (and therefore naturally in the grape juice) or enter the juice during harvesting or winemaking. Microbial spoilage will make the wine smell and taste unpleasant.
Most winemakers use preservatives, e.g. sulfur dioxide, to prevent and/or delay microbial spoilage.
Now, grape juice contains natural preservatives. Wine naturally contains a small amount of sulfur dioxide (10 - 50 mg/L), as it is produced by the yeast during the fermentation stage of winemaking. This means there is really no such thing as a "preservative free wine".
But, you still often hear the terms "Preservative Free Wines" or "Low Preservative Wines" used. Both terms are referring to wines that have had no preservatives added during the winemaking process, i.e. the preservative content in the wine is only the naturally occurring sulfur dioxide.
Preservatives in Organic Wines
My understanding of organic wine is that essentially no chemicals are used in the vineyard to grow the grapes and minimal chemicals are used in the winemaking process.
However to be certified organic, a wine can still have sulfur dioxide added as a preservative. And, most organic wine producers actually do add preservatives to their wines. But having said that though, organic winemakers tend to add about 50% less preservative than non-organic producers.
So in summary, organic wines and preservative free wines are not necessarily related. This is because to be classed as organic, a wine must come from an organic vineyard but will most likely have preservatives added during winemaking. On the other hand, a preservative free wine may be made from grapes that are not classed as organic.
At Preservative Free and Low Preservative Wines you'll find a selection of preservative free and low preservative wines by searching the "Browse" drop down box.
P.S. Quote of the Day - "It takes just as much time to prepare a good meal as it does to prepare a tasteless meal."
Elizabeth Mackenzie
The word preservative refers to protecting the wine from microbial contamination or spoilage by unwanted bacteria, moulds and yeast. These unwanted bacteria, moulds and yeast either naturally occur on the grapes (and therefore naturally in the grape juice) or enter the juice during harvesting or winemaking. Microbial spoilage will make the wine smell and taste unpleasant.
Most winemakers use preservatives, e.g. sulfur dioxide, to prevent and/or delay microbial spoilage.
Now, grape juice contains natural preservatives. Wine naturally contains a small amount of sulfur dioxide (10 - 50 mg/L), as it is produced by the yeast during the fermentation stage of winemaking. This means there is really no such thing as a "preservative free wine".
But, you still often hear the terms "Preservative Free Wines" or "Low Preservative Wines" used. Both terms are referring to wines that have had no preservatives added during the winemaking process, i.e. the preservative content in the wine is only the naturally occurring sulfur dioxide.
Preservatives in Organic Wines
My understanding of organic wine is that essentially no chemicals are used in the vineyard to grow the grapes and minimal chemicals are used in the winemaking process.
However to be certified organic, a wine can still have sulfur dioxide added as a preservative. And, most organic wine producers actually do add preservatives to their wines. But having said that though, organic winemakers tend to add about 50% less preservative than non-organic producers.
So in summary, organic wines and preservative free wines are not necessarily related. This is because to be classed as organic, a wine must come from an organic vineyard but will most likely have preservatives added during winemaking. On the other hand, a preservative free wine may be made from grapes that are not classed as organic.
At Preservative Free and Low Preservative Wines you'll find a selection of preservative free and low preservative wines by searching the "Browse" drop down box.
P.S. Quote of the Day - "It takes just as much time to prepare a good meal as it does to prepare a tasteless meal."
Elizabeth Mackenzie
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