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Have just bought some sulphite free wine for Xmas

jeanjeannie50 profile image
62 Replies

I read up about sulphites yesterday, it's a preservative, and then I googled which supermarkets stocked them.

I went into my usual supermarket today and asked a young lad in the wine aisle where the sulphite free wines were. I must admit I expected him to give me a blank look, but no he led me straight to the few they had. Both are organic one a Shiraz and the other Cabernet Sauvignon.

I then got carried away of course and went to read the back of an advocaat bottle, nothing at all on there so I googled it and it appears all the contents are all natural. that went into the trolley too. Then on I went to search for additive free lemonade and also lime cordial to make snowballs - just love those good old fashioned drinks! Last year I set my heart off racing drinking them, but I wasn't so careful checking for additives in the lime and lemonade.

A few days ago, someone in answer to another post on here stated that he was drinking white wine because it doesn't contain sulphites. Well I can tell you it certainly does.

I'll report back at some stage and let you know how I got on with these drinks. Has anyone else tried them?

Jean

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jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50
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62 Replies
Peddling profile image
Peddling

Thanks Jean, I googled sulphite free and up popped a Tesco white - picpoul, when I checked physically, sulphites were listed in the ingrediants. So don’t go by google.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Peddling

Well the two I've bought from Sainsburys certainly don't contain sulphites.

Jennietcb profile image
Jennietcb in reply to jeanjeannie50

Hi could you tell me what the name of the wine you brought from Sainsburys as I have the same problem with Sulphate, thanks🙂

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Jennietcb

Both mine were organic and from S. Africa and bottled for Sainsburys. I bought a Fairtrade Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon and they were £6.50 each. Both bottles state: No sulphur added. I believe sulphur is a preservative that's added to most wines. For that reason you can't keep these wines for as long as others. I think I saw somewhere its 6 months maximum.

Jean

Jennietcb profile image
Jennietcb in reply to jeanjeannie50

Cheers I’ll try them ,

Winner of the most welcome post of 2017 - please forward details of store and wine make.

Signed

Parched man who's wife promised to give up wine with him, but didnt!

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Well I bought mine in Sainsburys, but I guess other stores may stock them too. Just ask a member of staff in the wine aisles which shelf they're on. Both mine are organic and from S. Africa and bottled for Sainsburys. I bought a Fairtrade Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon and they were £6.50 each. Both bottles state: No sulphur added. I believe sulphur is a preservative that's added to most wines. For that reason you can't keep these wines for as long as others. I think I saw somewhere its 6 months maximum.

Jean

CaroleF profile image
CaroleF in reply to jeanjeannie50

Thanks, Jean. Must look out for these when I'm next in Sainsburys.

UScore profile image
UScore in reply to jeanjeannie50

I don't think I've ever managed to not drink a bottle of wine within 6 months. 6 days might be the record!

Happy Christmas!

Dodie117 profile image
Dodie117 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Don’t think they stand much chance of surviving 6 months in our house!!

Hertbeat321 profile image
Hertbeat321 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Really pleased to note this it’s what I have been looking for thanks

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply to jeanjeannie50

A good enough reason to drink straight away!

heartmatters1 profile image
heartmatters1 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Wouldn’t last 6 months in our house anyway!😂Happy Christmas

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

This link explains about sulphites in wine:

foodsmatter.com/allergy_int...

Loozy profile image
Loozy in reply to jeanjeannie50

Hi all

I used to love a wine but have given it up due AF and my heart going bonkers!

Can you drink this with AF?

L x

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Loozy

I'll let you know how I get on with mine. It's been said that the sulphur that's added to wines has an effect on a lot of people whether its headaches, AF or anything else. Some people are just more sensitive to them.

Jean

Loozy profile image
Loozy in reply to jeanjeannie50

Thank you jean!

Keep me posted!

L x

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly in reply to jeanjeannie50

Well, that was very interesting! Maybe explains why anything with dried fruit, sausages and red wine all give me an upset stomach. I have known since childhood that drinks such as fruit squash are a no-no, as I have an immediate asthmatic reaction.

in reply to Buffafly

I read somewhere years ago-can;t remember where-that sulfites can exacerbate asthma. I try to avoid - hard with processed foods. Another thing I try to avoid is nitrites-side effects attributed to them too. The food(s) most associated with nitrites here in the US are bacon/deli meats/ processed meats. It's almost 'unamerican' not to eat bacon so I now buy a nitrate-free bacon which has been available for a few years.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to

I love bacon, but I know it doesn't like me! I'll be aware of nitrites side effects from now on, thank you for the tip-off.

in reply to jeanjeannie50

Hi Jeanjeannie50 And the nitrate-free bacon doesn't taste any different. In fact-probably better cause I know I'm not eating carcinogens.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to

I don't know that we can get that bacon over here, will look when I'm next shopping.

Visitingcat profile image
Visitingcat in reply to jeanjeannie50

Hi Jean

Thanks very much for posting this link, it is so helpful, just had a read and it has answered a question for me.

When I have a glass of wine I get a full on head cold, start sneezing within a few minutes and go to bed later stuffed up and miserable, it can last till lunchtime the next day sometimes. I used to love a nice glass of Merlot.

I saw some organic wine in Aldi and thought “ that should be fine, it won’t have sulphates and other nasty stuff in “ but no. Full on head cold as usual.

This article says organic wine can still be full of sulphates so I’ll try a low sulphate one and see if it works for me.

Visitingcat profile image
Visitingcat in reply to Visitingcat

Well, I tried today to buy some, asked in Asda, “don’t think we have any, try some white”

Asked in Tesco “I’ll go and ask”, “ no, we have none”

Will still keep trying different shops....

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Visitingcat

I bought mine in Sainsburys and someone else on the forum said they bought some from M&S.

Visitingcat profile image
Visitingcat in reply to jeanjeannie50

Thanks Jean,

Those were just the shops we went to yesterday, thought I would ask but was not getting my hopes up too much.

Staying in till after Christmas now, I’ll try different shops when we start going out and about again.

Beat wishes for a lovely Xmas and new year.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Visitingcat

I don't blame you for not wanting to go out again as the supermarkets are so extremely busy right now, they're a nightmare.

Last Christmas I had 4 alcoholic drinks, a glass of red wine Christmas eve, fine. Then three snowballs on Christmas day, by tea time my heart was racing away and making me feel ill. However, this year I'm not going to eat such a large dinner as of course that too could have been a trigger. Oh to be normal - sigh!

Have a lovely Christmas and best wishes for the new year.

Jean

Mo-ararat profile image
Mo-ararat

Hi Jean. Can you please try all the ingredients for a snowball and let us know the outcome. Your post has made me very happy. Thank you.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Mo-ararat

Let me tell you now what products I bought to make the snowballs: Warninks Advocaat, Belvoir Lime and Lemongrass cordial, Taste the Difference Lemonade from the chiller cabinet, not sure if that has any fizz in it so have also bought some Sprite which says on the front no added preservatives and natural flavours, the sweetener in it is steviol (a natural one) - I can remember being able to drink that with no ill effects when on holiday. Other drinks I looked at all contained artificial sweeteners and additives which I know set my heart off. I'll report back, but I'm going to stay at my daughters for a few days, so it may be after Christmas. Perhaps I'll re-instate the Health Unlocked app on my phone.

Have a lovely Christmas.

Jean

Mo-ararat profile image
Mo-ararat in reply to jeanjeannie50

Hi Jean Just written my list so off to Sainsbury's. Just the thought of a Christmas drink makes me happy. Wishing you a AF free christmas and new year.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Mo-ararat

Same to you Mo and lets hope this wine doesn't set our hearts off. x

fallingtopieces profile image
fallingtopieces

I went through the sulphur free wine phase a couple of years ago, just to see if it made a difference. I stuck with it for a while to see. Can’t say I noticed any difference. At the time I found marks and spencer did a red white and rose which were all nice.

Pat

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to fallingtopieces

Thank you Pat, that's interesting to know that M&S do those wines.

Jean

Thanks for that Jean. Off to work now but that'll be a wee research project tonight when I get home.

You've covered the Christmas booze - hope you remembered to buy the family Christmas presents :-0, :-0 Lol!

John

Sam72- profile image
Sam72-

You are spot on with this topic Jeanie 👌🏼strong bow cider and beer 🍺 is full of them 2 . And wine especially white has loads in it . As soon as I used to drink wine especially white I would start to sneeze 🤧 and then pay the price with my ectopic heart beats the next day x

WendyWu20 profile image
WendyWu20

:o) What a terrible ordeal, having to test out all that alcohol on behalf of fellow AF-ers hehe.

If we get a rambling, semi-coherent post on the merits of additive free wine, we'll know you were successful! Have fun...

Jan101 profile image
Jan101

Hi Jennie maybe you could answer a question for me. I don’t really drink. But a long time ago I had lunch with some people and I said I couldn’t drink red wine as even the first sip gave me a blinding headache. He said that must be ........ I cannot remember what he said it was. However he gave me a glass of this wine without any of this ingredient in it and I drank a full glass and so happy to say I never had a headache. Is this the ingredient that you are speaking about? If so I would like to buy a bottle for Christmas Day. I hope all is well with you. Love and hugs 🤗🤗🤗🎅🤶🦌🎄☃️xxx

sleeksheep profile image
sleeksheep in reply to Jan101

With red wines its usually tannins which cause headaches.

This is common with "oak " type wines

Jan101 profile image
Jan101 in reply to sleeksheep

Thank you so you know can you buy red wine without tannins in it ? Only I cannot remember what the wine was that the man gave to me. Love and hugs 🤗🤗🎅🤶🦌🎄☃️xxx

sleeksheep profile image
sleeksheep in reply to Jan101

Its a bit of a quandary because they take the skins out when fermenting - same grape can make white or red wine. Add red skins back and a white wine is red. The skins have tannins also....

But by and large any wine that mentions oak. ie. nice oaky nose or fermented in Oak barrels be it French or American Oak will have tannins.

most Shiraz variety's are oaked

all full bodied wines have oak.

Probably good winter drinking wines are all oaked , where as most spritzy , softer reds and whites mostly drunk in Summer are not.

As I,m in Australia any wine I say is good you probably never see or its rebranded under another label.

Jan101 profile image
Jan101 in reply to sleeksheep

Thank you for your reply. Have a lovely Christmas and take care. 🎅🦌🎄☃️xxx

sleeksheep profile image
sleeksheep

Just to clear up a little bit here.

Sulphites have to be mentioned only if they exceed 10 mg/ltr.

All wines have some sulphite as its a by-product of fermentation.

But since this is very small ( 6mg/ltr ) decanting will easily remove it.

So wines saying no added sulphite are inclined to be very low, but

unfortunately I have found this is not always so.

But by decanting I,ve had no problems.

Thats why they say let the wine breathe - it really serves a purpose.

I dont buy any alcohol that says sulphides as decanting is not really

feasible with all wines.

wilsond profile image
wilsond

Thanks for the tipple tips!MerryChristmas to you too!

philologus profile image
philologus

I'm going to make a lot of people jealous now.

I make my own wine. I make it from things that I get free such as brambles, elderflowers, elderberries, damsons, bilberries, etc.

I don't use anything other than a good yeast and a yeast nutrient so there are no "nasties" in the finished product. I can choose how sweet to make it by adjusting the recipe to suit my wife's slightly sweet tooth. I can choose how strong by using the right yeast. I've made some that was 17% but I prefer it to be about 14% as I want to enjoy drinking it without getting slightly inebriated after one glass!

I currently have well over a hundred bottles on racks in the spare bedroom and another eighteen gallons in demi-johns which will soon be ready for bottling.

A local pub/restaurant gives me free empty bottles so.........

The average cost per bottle of wine is 20p!

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply to philologus

How did you lesrn how to do it please?always wanted to

momist profile image
momist

Ooh! - Love a good snowball! The best way I like them is using Canada Dry ginger ale with the Advocaat. Slightly damp the rim of the glass and dip in granulated sugar, put in the Advocaat, then open the ginger ale, put your thumb over the end and shake slightly then jet it into the glass, it all froths up and looks amazing. Don't forget the cherry and umbrella! And yes, I'm a bloke. Very blokey, but I still love a good snowball!

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to momist

Love the sound of that snowball.

Mike11 profile image
Mike11

Or you can just buy a sulphite filter and buy any wine. There are loads available so don't take this one as a recommendation but here's the link to a typical one

uk.ullowine.com/

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Mike11

Wow Mike, that's such good news to read about the filter. The worlds/wines are our oyster!!

Mike11 profile image
Mike11 in reply to jeanjeannie50

yes - it's quite expensive on a per bottle basis so you only use it for better wines, but there are less effective ones available as well.

I'm not affected healthwise by sulphites but the wine definitely tastes better without them

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Mike11

Interesting, thank you.

Tako2009 profile image
Tako2009

Thank you Jean!! The only thing I miss giving up alcohol is my glass of red wine 🍷 with dinner. So I shall be watching this space to find out how the wine (sulphite free!) goes down. May even risk a glass on New Years Eve! 😀

Hello,

For those of us who live in the North West there is a excellent Fair trade/Organic/Biodynamic Store in Chorlton - Cum - Hardy called the 'Unicorn' that sells an extensive range of Organic/ sulphite + gluten free wines + beers.

Season Greetings,

Carol.

Rcarter profile image
Rcarter

For those who shop at Sainsbury’s they sell a French red wine by ‘Bouchard Aine et Fils’ which does not contain sulphites . It varies between about £6 & 8 a bottle and is often at the lower price on offer. Nice tasting but not heavy red. It is not easy to find it on the shelves as it not classed as organic.

philologus profile image
philologus

Wilsond: About three years ago I dropped my wife off at Morrisons and with me not enjoying wandering round a store for an hour, I took the dog for a walk round the area.

I found lots of beautiful brambles and then came across some wild damsons. We went back on another day and came home with plastic bucket-fulls of both.

I decided not to waste the ones that were left over so looked online to find out how to make bramble wine.

youtube.com/watch?v=ArZZLEg...

I bought a load of second hand equipment for £25 and got started. This included a good book about wine making by the aptly-named, J Berry

Look on your local Freecycle site and you might get lucky. If not, then Gumtree or Ebay should have some. Demi-johns are about £7 new but only one or two pounds second hand. I got ten for ten pounds locally to add to the seven that I bought initially.

It's not difficult to do but it can be time-consuming at first because you tend to check everything a few times to make sure you've got it right.

Cleanliness is paramount!

If you stick to using things you can pick wild and free then there is an extra buzz about doing it. (And it's very cheap too.)

I didn't like the elderberry wine at first so started using it for cooking.

After maturing for a year it has changed a lot and is really nice so I now regret using so much for cooking and I let my wines mature.

Elderflower is a nice white wine with a lovely smell.

From picking the fruit to drinking the wine is six months or more so it gives you time to collect a few wine bottles in readiness.

George

JaneFinn profile image
JaneFinn

Hi jean Jeanie, I’m just wondering how you got on with your sulphite free Christmas wine? Xxx

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Hi Jane - Absolutely fine, but I only drank one bottle and that was the Shiraz. It was fine when first opened (only me drinking it), but after two days didn't taste so good and a little was thrown away (no preservatives of course).

The most successful thing were the snowballs I made with advocaat, and Sainsburys own lemonade (in the chiller section). I had bought some lime and lemongrass cordial to mix in, but it tasted odd with that. The whole bottle of advocaat disappeared fairly quickly and I wouldn't hesitate to buy that again.

Yes, I'll probably be buying sulphite free wine again as well next year. I didn't feel like so much like a party pooper with that.

Jean

Vonnieruth profile image
Vonnieruth

Hi can you tell me which lemonade and lime are additive free .I can do with out the alcohol I think lol

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Vonnieruth

The lemonade was in the fridge at Sainsburys. Will have a look when I'm next there to see if I can find it again. Think it was about three pounds (pound sign playing up). The lime had something else with it and to be honest wasn't very nice. I'd make a snowball without it if I were you.

Jean

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Vonnieruth

Have just copied this from one of my previous posts:

Let me tell you now what products I bought to make the snowballs: Warninks Advocaat, Belvoir Lime and Lemongrass cordial, Taste the Difference Lemonade from the chiller cabinet, not sure if that has any fizz in it so have also bought some Sprite which says on the front no added preservatives and natural flavours, the sweetener in it is steviol (a natural one) - I can remember being able to drink that with no ill effects when on holiday.

Vonnieruth profile image
Vonnieruth

I'm totally lost here as to what I can or can't eat or drink

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Vonnieruth

I'd try and avoid anything with artificial additives. It's only through trial and error we find out what affects us and additives are a common trigger along with alcohol.

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