How to Remove Sulfites from Wine the Easy Way

If you’ve ever woken up with cement mixer head from one glass of vino too many, you might have thought it was due to sulfites. Probably not! Your red wine headaches are a real thing, but alcohol, sugar, tannins and overindulgence are the more likely causes.

However, sulfites do pose other others challenge to wine drinkers. For one thing, some people do have a genuine allergic reaction to them. (Like congestion, hives, sneezing, coughing, etc.) Plus, some people simply prefer to eat and drink products without additives.

What Are Sulfites? Should I Remove Them?

Sulfites are a preservative added to maintain the natural flavor and color of the wine. This combination of sulfur and dioxide (SO2) is usually added to all types of wine. Some drinkers report that the chemical leaves behind a bitter taste.

Even if no extra sulfites have been added, it’s important to remember that a natural part of the wine’s fermentation process produces some sulfites. The chemical process of adding SO2 has reportedly been used for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient Romans. They used it during their winemaking process to prevent the wine from turning to vinegar.

Sulfites aren’t evil per se, but you may enjoy your wine more with less of them.

We explain how to store wine at home to keep it fresh.

Does Using a Wine Purifier Work?

There are many products on the market that claim to remove bitterness by filtering out sulfites. The Ullo Wine Purifier is one of them. It’s a small net-like gadget that you place over your glass as you pour the wine. It works to aerate the wine, allowing it to breathe oxygen and let natural flavors come through. This is how to taste wine, according to a sommelier.

Reviewers overwhelmingly love this product. Many even performed taste tests with their favorite bottle of wine. When they compared their purified and unpurified glasses, the difference was noticeable. “You’ve spoiled me,” says one sampler. Another reports that Ullo is “a game-changer.”

The next time you reach for a glass of wine, consider pouring it through a purifier to savor your pinot at its fullest. Even if you’re not sensitive to sulfites, you could enjoy a fresher glass. Here’s another way to make any glass of wine taste better.

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