Maybe a silly question
OK, I understand that sulfites have been used throughout history in wine making but I have been curious as to how they did it. We have access to purified refined versions of sulfites that are ancestors did not. Now sulfur wicks and candles in barrels I can understand but meta bisulfites? How would great great great grandpa Joe do it it the old country? Or go back further how about the greeks?
Who's the resident chemical /historian?
Tom
Here's a starting point (perhaps):
Steve
It is in the burning of sulfur that you produce sulfur dioxide (SO2). That is the preservative in wine. SO2 is in equilibrium with metabisulfites in solution (in wine). Most home winemakers use readily available metabisulfites in powdered form to add SO2 to wine as it isn't practical to have SO2 gas tanks in your home. However, many wineries utilize the gas itself. I guess the old timers used to achieve SO2/Sulfite solutions by burning sulfur and passing the gas through the wine or other acid solution. I'll see if I can did up more information.
I would love to read about it if you dig anything up. I have always wondered how they physically were using SO2 in early wine making.
bisulfites?
One simple way is by "mechage". That entails burning a sulfur candle in the container before putting in the wine. That's not a very well controlled method because some of the SO2 gets blown out, and you never really knew how much you started with in the first place. Another (better) way is by bubbling the fumes from burning sulfur through cold water to make sulfurous acid, and then adding that to the wine. That's much easier to control, and you can calculate how much you're adding by measuring the specific gravity of the acid solution and the volumes of the wine and the addition. I know that sounds like too modern a method, but it's pretty simple chemistry and has been known for hundreds of years.
Tom S
Tom, I have some older wine books, but this is usually a one liner about the practice going back to Roman times as I recall.
Alex Lichine mentions the Iliad, where "Achilles fumigated his cup with Sulfur before pouring a libation to Zeus", so that predates the Romans. I would think that implies he burnt it.
I know the Valley of Himmon outside of Jerusalem was a garbage dump
2000 years ago where sulfur fires burned constantly, so the people in that area burnt sulfur too.If I run acroos better references I wil refer you. Joe
DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.