Comments for Contains Sulfites

Comment on How I got my first vintage cellarhand position by Mai

Mai — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:29:40 +0000

Hi Patrick, I’m not sure what the going rate for rent in Margaret River. I’m guessing your winery was not willing to help you find housing. If you’re on your own, one spot to search might be gumtree.com.au – the Oz version of Craigslist. Youth hostels are another option — they’re not that much more expensive than actual renting. Western Australia living cost seems to be higher due to its remote location. My guess is expect to pay around 150 to 200 per week on rent. You probably also need a car — maybe get in touch with other vintage workers to see if you can share rides. Good luck and I hope you enjoy it out there, I’m told it’s a major surfing destination, and gorgeous!

Comment on How I got my first vintage cellarhand position by Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:15:23 +0000

May I ask you what the typical rent is like in margaret river during the vintage? It is very hard to tell by looking online. I managed to secure a position for the 2012 harvest. I’m excited but nervous about breaking even on the costs.

Comment on What does Contains Sulfites mean? by Jason

Jason — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:15:45 +0000

This is a bit long but I hope it may clarify some things and possibly help someone so I hope the blogger publishes this.

Having a sulfite allergy is not the same as being allergic to sulfur. Sulfides,Sulfur and Sulfites all have different structures.

First off-as it pertains to wine most people who have reactions to sulfites go beyond any mere headache from drinking wine. This is not a reaction to sulfites but something else in the wine. If you had an allergy to sulfites you would not be able to take more than a sip before the fun started…urticaria (hives,blotchy skin), rapid heartbeat,impending sense of doom, tight throat,difficulty breathing or swallowing,etc.

All wine has sulfites and those that do not have “added sulfites” still contain naturaully occruing ones from the fermentation process. And to the commenter above-white wine actually has more sulfites than red. Sulfites are used as a preservative and anti-browning agent so thus more is in white wine.

Recent research has shown that sulfite allergy may be cause by lack of an enzyme that breaks down the suliftes in the body to harmless sulfates. So it may in the end prove to be a metabolic disorder rather than “true” allergy. However anaphylatic shock is still anaphylactic shock despite the root cause.

If anyone reading this thinks they may have a sulfite allergy I urge you to first consult a doctor who knows about this (harder than you may think) and then change your diet immediately. The main offenders are:
Wine,certain liquors and spirits
Vinegar (distilled vinegar is fine)
Corn Syrup,High Fructose Corn Syrup
Corn Starch
Concentrated lime/lemon juice
Grape Juice
Balsmaic Vinegar
Caramel Color
Yellow #5
Frozen potatoes (treated with sulfites to prevent browning)
Seafood (this is often treated on the boat with sulfites- fresh is usually fine)
Biotin (vitamin B7 is pure sulfure dioxide..yay!)

Avoid anything with the words:sulphites,sulfites,sulfur dioxide,sulfide salt,bisulfite or metasulfite in it.

Vitamin B12,Zinc and Copper seem to help the body raise the thresh hold and process the sulifites in the body. Recent research has also shown chloroplasts help in neutralizing sulfites so eat a lot of spinach,wheatgrass,chlorella algae and cilantro.

There is much more available on the net.

Thank you for letting me post this.

Comment on About by tim

tim — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:04:30 +0000

So over a tear down the road, the MS from Adelaide, combined with 10 yeas of winemaking, has allowed me to TEACH winemaking! I hope your experience has gone well!

Comment on How I got my first vintage cellarhand position by Yasemen

Yasemen — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:17:46 +0000

Great advice, just what I need. Thank you so much!

Good luck for vintage 2012!

Comment on What does Contains Sulfites mean? by Mai

Mai — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:16:01 +0000

Ruth, there are numerous of phenolic compounds in red wine, so you may be sensitive to any of those. Many of those compounds are also found in white wines, but in smaller amounts. Do you have the same reaction to rose and lighter red wines like Beaujolais? I’m glad you are still able to enjoy wine!

Comment on What does Contains Sulfites mean? by Ruth Reilly

Ruth Reilly — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:14:43 +0000

Thank you for the info, thought I was alergic to sulfites, but maybe not. I quit drinking red wine (which I adore) because I thought it was higher in sulfites. I went to white wine, not a problem. So I don’t know.

Comment on Visiting McLaren Vale before classes start by Mid-Semester Break, Autumn Colors « Contains Sulfites

Mid-Semester Break, Autumn Colors « Contains Sulfites — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:55:48 +0000

[...] year, so I was looking forward to trying some of their new releases. (Read about a previous visit here.) Many of the new releases were going through bottle shock, even the Grenache which is a favorite [...]

Comment on Back to school! by Kevin Cartwright

Kevin Cartwright — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:45:48 +0000

Keep up the good work Mai, it sounds like you are taking some very interesting classes! I would love to know more about the Stabilization and Clarification class as that develops.

Comment on How I found and applied to the University of Adelaide Masters Oenology Program by Mai

Mai — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:35:02 +0000

Thanks! I’m loving every minute, and meeting so many wonderful people. I still can’t believe it that I’m actually here!