Sulfites in wine

[pergamum]

The "Contains Sulfites" label designates a wine that contains more than 350 parts per million of "sulphur dioxide." Now, before you pour this wine into the garbage because you think its tainted, there are a couple of things you should know:
First, sulphur dioxide or sulfites (the term the government uses to lovingly refer to this naturally occuring compound) are often added to wine as a preservation tool. Sulphur dioxide is an anti-bacterial and an anti-oxidant that occurs naturally in wine. It works to prvent wine from being invaded by yeasts and/or oxygen; which may actively destroy the taste of the wine and turn it into something that has a flavour similar to vinegar.
Second, the U.S. government starting labeling wines with the infamous "Contains Sulfites" label when, in the mid 80s, they discovered that 5% of asthmatics are "sensitive to sulfites." I wouldn't worry hower, your are at very little risk. Most wines contain about 100 to 150 parts sulfite per million.
Many wine makers rue the day when this label arrived on the scene, however, because using sulfites is often looked down on as a sort of "wimping out in the wine world," i.e., if you can't make a wine that preserves itself without additives to protect it then stop trying. But, in my opinion, wine tastes the same with or without sulfites added--many snobs may disagree with me. I hope I answered your question. . .I also hope that you didn't fall asleep while I answered your question.