| Sulphur Dioxide or E220 as it is so alarmingly and | | | | In most of the European consumer countries (UK, |
| anonymously titled on so many food packets is | | | | NL), rules were also set up by certifying bodies |
| permitted under all winemaking standards. It is a | | | | (as Soil Association for the UK), with limitations on |
| preservative and disinfectant. It is added to wine | | | | the doses of additives notably sulphites. |
| as Potassium Metabisulphate or PMS and has been | | | | Sulphites are naturally produced by yeasts during |
| blamed for being one of the major causes of | | | | the winemaking. The addition of sulphite is |
| hangovers and headaches following wine | | | | traditionally considered as en effective method for |
| consumption. Some people have lower thresholds | | | | the protection and the preservation/conservation |
| than others, and if you’re the former then | | | | of the wine at various stages of its elaboration. |
| Organic wine is definitely recommended as the | | | | Nevertheless, the use of sulphites in foodstuffs is |
| governing bodies permit just two thirds of the | | | | limited because of their potential, negative effects |
| amount (although the norm is well within this). The | | | | on the health, of the user and of certain |
| best producers try to use much, much less than | | | | consumers. |
| this. | | | | The sulphiting is allowed for all the regulations of |
| However, there are no official rules concerning the | | | | organic winemaking, but in a more restricted way |
| organic vine growing. So, organic wine growers | | | | than in the regulation of the wine. The European |
| adopted wine growing techniques in agreement | | | | regulation fixes maximal doses of sulphites in the |
| with the principles of the organic farming. They | | | | end product; they vary according to the types of |
| are often charters or guides of good practices | | | | wines of 160mg/l for red wines to 400mg/l for |
| with qualitative and quantitative limitations of the | | | | sweet wines made from noble rot such as |
| custom/usage of additives and technological | | | | Sauternes. |
| processes. | | | | |