...to re-cap, we were considering how you could minimise your sulphur intake.
Well, you could look to imbibe only wines labelled ‘sulphite-free’, and we stock a few. They taste very good, and they offer peace of mind. However, they tend not to be available in a very diverse range. The reason for this is that sulphites are regarded by the vast majority of wine-makers as an integral part of their product, and this includes the finest producers out there. It is perhaps best to remember that many wines that do contain sulphites contain only a necessary amount, while others will contain high or excessive amounts. The trick is to be able to discern between the two.
To do this, we need again to think about quantity. Wine-makers who have built, or are building, a reputation for quality will almost certainly exercise better judgement when adding sulphites. They will be aware that superfluous sulphites can be detected in the flavour of the wine – a trait they are keen to avoid. But more often than not, they will also be producing on a smaller scale and will be better able to quantify the amount of additional sulphur which is required to stabilise their wine. Conversely, producers of mass quantities of wine are more cautious when ensuring their wines are adequately preserved, which means they are more liberal with sulphite use.
The bottom line for us, then, is identifying those wines. It is easier than it sounds. First, the wines to rule out are the ones you can easily think of; we do not have to name names. If one wine takes up a whole shelf in a supermarket, and that supermarket chain has several hundred branches across the country, then that is a wine you probably want to avoid. Instead, look out for key phrases on the label which indicate a smaller scale of production. “Mis en bouteille au chateau” means the wine has been bottled at the same place the grapes were grown. This suggests the wine has been produced at a level where each step of the process has been overseen by a small team of wine-makers. Similarly, ‘Estate-Grown’ suggests a local level of production where the emphasis has been on growing good grapes and turning them into good wine.
At Exel Wines, we have always been committed to sourcing and supplying wines with a bespoke provenance, and not just because of the sulphite content. We like to support artisan and conscientious wine-makers, we are obsessive when it comes to securing wines of great quality and we never stock the kind of wines that are bulk-produced and are available in a myriad of other places. And, of course, we are always on hand to offer tailored advice when you are looking to buy wine, whether it is a special bottle or just something for the weekend. You’ll find us in our shop in Perth, or online.
Listed below are a select few of our wines which adhere to sound wine-making principles and go easy on the sulphites:
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