Should I choose Additive Free Wines?

We often see the phrases like natural, preservative free, no additions, unfined and unfiltered on wine labels, but what are the additives that can be used in winemaking and should we be worried?

The most commonly utilised Preservative in the wine making process is Sulphur dioxide or SO2 (preservative 220), less commonly Potassium metabisulphite (preservative 224), and in white wine, antioxidant Ascorbic Acid (300). Sulphur is used to sanitize equipment, and in winemaking at harvest, crushing, fermentation, and bottling – slowing chemical reactions that make wine ‘go bad’.

Preservative Free wines have no Sulphur dioxide (additives 220 or 224) added, but may still contain minute amounts of naturally occurring SO2, as long as it measures under the allowable threshold of 10 parts per million. So, more accurately, they are "No Added Preservative" wines. For simplicity the two terms are used interchangeably when the level is below this accepted allowable threshold.

If you wish to dig a bit deeper into this topic please have a look at our blog post: What are Wine Additives

To learn more about preservatives in wines please check out our Guide to Buying Preservative Free Wines or a more detailed article on Wine & Presevatives

These delicious wines in this pack are all "No Added Preservative" wines.

(SKU: 10978)