Does your wine contain sulphites?

Understanding Organic, Natural, Vegan & Conventional Wine

These days, there are so many terms used to describe how wine is made that it can be hard to know exactly what you are buying. Organic, biodynamic, minimal intervention, vegan and conventional all mean different things.

The other day, a woman came up to me at my market stall and asked if my wine was organic because she did not want sulphites. It was an interesting question because organic wine can absolutely contain sulphites. In fact, none of these terms automatically means sulphite free.

Conventional Wine

Conventional wine is a broad category referring to wines that are not produced under an organic or biodynamic certification system.

Conventional winemaking allows the use of a range of permitted vineyard and winemaking products and techniques. This can include different methods to manage fermentation, oxidation, microbial stability, clarity, flavour and shelf life.

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is one of the tools commonly used. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and helps protect wine from oxidation and spoilage.

Conventional does not mean poor quality. It simply describes a different approach to wine production.

Organic Wine

Organic wine is not simply wine made without chemicals. It refers to a regulated method of production with specific standards around what can be used in the vineyard and winery.

In Australia, certified organic producers must follow recognised standards covering things such as fertilisers, pesticides, vineyard management and permitted winemaking inputs. The aim is to limit the use of synthetic chemicals and encourage farming practices that support soil and ecosystem health.

Importantly, organic wine can still contain sulphites. Sulphur dioxide is permitted under Australian organic standards, subject to specific limits.

It is also important to distinguish between grapes that have been organically grown and wine that is certified organic. A wine cannot simply be called organic because the winemaker has chosen to use organic grapes. The appropriate certification and labelling requirements also need to be met.

So, organic tells you about the production standards the wine has been made under, but it does not mean sulphite free.

Biodynamic Wine

Biodynamic farming takes the principles of organic farming a step further. It is based on a particular agricultural philosophy that views the vineyard as a whole, interconnected ecosystem.

Biodynamic growers focus on building healthy soils, biodiversity and natural cycles within the vineyard. Biodynamic farming also involves specific preparations and practices, including the use of preparations made from natural materials and a greater emphasis on timing certain vineyard activities around natural cycles.

Like organic wine, certified biodynamic production has its own standards and restrictions around what can be used in the vineyard and winery.

Biodynamic wine can also contain sulphites. Sulphur dioxide is permitted within the relevant standards and limits, so biodynamic does not automatically mean sulphite free.

The simplest way to think about it is that organic and biodynamic are both regulated approaches to production, while biodynamic follows an additional agricultural philosophy and set of practices.

Natural & Minimal Intervention Wine

This is where things become less straightforward.

Unlike certified organic production, natural wine does not have one universally accepted definition or standard.

Generally, natural or minimal intervention wines are made with as little intervention as possible. This might involve spontaneous fermentation, minimal filtration or fining, and little or no added sulphur dioxide.

However, natural wine is not necessarily sulphite free. Sulphur dioxide can occur naturally during fermentation and may also be added by the winemaker.

Using less intervention does not necessarily mean a wine is better. It simply reflects a different winemaking philosophy.

Vegan Wine

Vegan wine refers to the winemaking process rather than how the grapes were grown.

Traditionally, animal derived products such as egg white, gelatine, milk derived casein and isinglass have been used to clarify wine. Vegan winemakers avoid these products and can use alternatives such as bentonite.

Vegan wine can still contain sulphites, and being vegan does not tell you whether a wine is organic, biodynamic or natural. It simply means animal derived products have not been used in its production.

Where Does Midnight Sounds Fit?

At Midnight Sounds, my wines are conventionally produced and vegan.

I source Australian grapes and use established winemaking techniques to create wines that are stable, expressive and enjoyable to drink. I also choose not to use animal derived fining agents, making my wines suitable for people following a vegan diet.

So while my wines are vegan, they are not organic or natural. I think being upfront about this is important because these terms can easily be misunderstood.

And when it comes to sulphites, unless a wine is specifically labelled as sulphite free, it is safest not to assume that organic, natural, biodynamic or vegan means there are no sulphites in the bottle.