Tag: Wine regulations

Every bottle of wine, including merlot, contains sulfites, which are naturally produced during the fermentation process. Sulfites act as a preservative and antioxidant, protecting the wine from spoilage. However, the key distinction lies in the additional sulfites that winemakers may add, and how these levels vary across different types of wine.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), certified organic wine is produced without added sulfites, but this does not mean the final product is completely sulfite-free. The fermentation process naturally creates sulfites, so all wine, including organic varieties, will contain trace amounts. This distinction is critical for understanding what the different labels on wine bottles truly mean.

According to EU regulations, the maximum sulfur dioxide content for red wines is 150 mg/L, and for dry white wines, it's 200 mg/L. This leads many to wonder: does wine in Italy have less sulfites, or are the standards similar to other global producers?