I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
Bob G.

Bob - What makes you think you are allergic to sulfites? I ask because
there are so many foods that contain sulfites you will really have to be
careful what you eat. Also, sulfite allergy is mentioned as a problem with
some people who have headache trouble with wine when the problem is not
sulfites but histamines and other wine constituents.

You can make wine without sulfite. Just don't expect it to last for years.

If you mean what can a person use to sanitize equipment in lieu of sulfites
you can use chlorine. It must be rinsed several times to remove all traces
or your wine taste will suffer. Iodophor is a good alternative as a
sanitizer and there are other. But cleaning well after and before use is
just as good IMO for winemaking.

Bill Frazier
Olathe, Kansas

> wrote in message
...
> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
> Bob G.

> wrote in message
...
> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
> Bob G.

I'm no expert on sulfite free winemaking, but a few ideas that pop to
mind...

Use a good non-sulfite sanitizer on everything. I like Star San, since it is
fast acting, does not require rinsing, and keeps well in solution. Iodophor
and bleach are other options.

Keep your pH levels down by whatever means you can.

Avoid oxidative handling. Rack carefully with no splashing, or use an inert
gas blanket.

Brian

Sulfite free wine will not keep as long so aim for lower alcohol wines,
10-12%. These do not require as long to age. And plan to drink all your
batches within 2 years or less

You should also consider getting an inert gas system to protect your wine
when racking and bottling. This should help a lot.

Ray

> wrote in message
...
> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
> Bob G.

I know people have been medically diagnosed allergic to SULFAS (?) but not
sulfites. I agree with some of the other posts in that sulfites are
typically not what you're allergic to unless you cannot eat, say, canned
foods.

Also, you _cannot_ make wine without sulfites - they are a naturally
occurring compound resultant of fermentation, albeit it at much lower
concentrations than we add for preservation.

> wrote in message
...
> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
> Bob G.

Bob,

Ditto all the above.

Here are some ideas:

1) If you get headaches from wines, esp. reds, but not from salad bars,
dried fruits & such, then it's safe to say the headaches aren't from the
sulfites (which are plentiful in the foods mentioned).

2) If taking an over-the-counter antihistamine tablet prevents wine
from giving you a headache, that pretty much confirms histamines as the
problem.

3) There are wines, e.g.. Lemberger (aka Blaufränkish), which are
naturally low in histamine-producing substances.

4) Chlorine is an even stronger oxidizer than oxygen. It won't support
bacterial spoilage, but it will chemically oxidize the wine & taste "off".


Luck, Mike MTM

I'm reading this thread and am wondering if someone knows why reds will
initiate a migraine and whites don't bother me.
> wrote in message
...
> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
> Bob G.

> wrote in message
...
> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.

You can use chlorine for cleaning non-porous equipment, but you don't want
ANY trace of it in your wine! That means very thorough rinsing after
cleaning anything with bleach.

Tom S

On 2/4/04 8:52 PM, in article , "kklein"
> wrote:

> I'm reading this thread and am wondering if someone knows why reds will
> initiate a migraine and whites don't bother me.
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
>> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
>> Bob G.
>
>

It is not very well understood - some blame the tannins in red wine. Red
wines also have up to 200% more histamines than white wines and this may
cause allergic reactions inducing headaches. There are many components of
wine and it is difficult to blame any one of them.

Here's an interesting web page about red wine headaches for more
information:

http://www.beekmanwine.com/prevtopbd.htm


--
Greg Cook
http://homepage.mac.com/gregcook/Wine

(remove spamblocker from my email)

Greg,

Try this site about headache causes, especially in re Alcohol and Tyramine.

> http://www.healthsquare.com/headaches5.htm


It's interesting to note that sulfites aren't mentioned at all.

HTH, Mike MTM

I had read that link and in my particular case it seems to be perhaps
something in the metabolites from the red wine. One glass OK, but two or
three and the next day will get the migraine. Whites don't do that. I've
never been a big wine drinker even though my family always made wine. I
have made my share as well but didn't drink much of it. It's only been in
recent years that I have really made some definite associations with the
reds and whites. I am planning to make some wine again and it will be
mostly white from here on.
"Greg Cook" > wrote in message
...
> On 2/4/04 8:52 PM, in article , "kklein"
> > wrote:
>
> > I'm reading this thread and am wondering if someone knows why reds will
> > initiate a migraine and whites don't bother me.
> > > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> I have become allergic to sulfites. Ugh!! Any suggestions about
> >> making wine without using sulfites? Using chlorine, for example.
> >> Bob G.
> >
> >
>
> It is not very well understood - some blame the tannins in red wine. Red
> wines also have up to 200% more histamines than white wines and this may
> cause allergic reactions inducing headaches. There are many components of
> wine and it is difficult to blame any one of them.
>
> Here's an interesting web page about red wine headaches for more
> information:
>
> http://www.beekmanwine.com/prevtopbd.htm
>
>
> --
> Greg Cook
> http://homepage.mac.com/gregcook/Wine
>
> (remove spamblocker from my email)
>