What really goes into a bottle of wine? While wine is traditionally made from fermented grapes, modern winemaking can involve a surprising variety of additives and processing aids. From sulphites used to preserve freshness to fining agents that improve clarity, these substances can influence a wine’s stability, appearance, flavour, and shelf life.
Some wine additives have been used for centuries, while others are the result of modern winemaking techniques. But are they all necessary? Are certain additives harmful, and what is the difference between conventional, organic, natural, and low-intervention wines? Understanding what goes into wine can help consumers make more informed choices.
Explore our articles about wine additives, preservatives, sulphites, acidity regulators, fining agents, and other substances used in winemaking. Discover why they are used, how they affect the finished wine, and what wine labels can tell us about what’s inside the bottle.
You pour yourself a glass of wine, maybe after a long day, maybe just because it feels like the right moment… and then you notice something. Little bits at the bottom.A slightly cloudy swirl.Something that wasn’t there before — or at least you never noticed it. And suddenly, the enjoyment pauses. Is this normal?Is the […]
If you’re like me, you’ve probably seen “contains sulphites” on a wine label and thought: “Okay, that’s something — but is that all?” It turns out there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. Winemaking involves many invisible helpers: additives, processing agents, chemical residues. Some are benign, some less so. Let’s lift the veil. […]
For most wine lovers, the thought of blood being used in making wine sounds like something out of a horror story. But for centuries, ox blood—often in the form of dried blood powder—was a common fining agent in wine production. Before modern winemaking techniques, producers used a variety of substances to improve clarity and stability. […]
Imagine you’re at a dinner party. The host pours a glass of wine, and someone asks, “Is this kosher?” You pause, thinking, “Wait, what makes a wine kosher anyway?” It’s a question many of us have wondered about, and the answer is surprisingly fascinating. So, let’s start by looking into the Basics. Kosher Wine: The […]
If you’ve ever walked down the wine aisle, squinting at labels that boast terms like “organic” or “biodynamic,” you’re not alone. These days, wine enthusiasts are becoming more eco-conscious, and the wine industry is responding by slapping some fancy eco-friendly labels on their bottles. But what do these terms actually mean? Let’s translate these terms […]