Why Does Wine Say Contains Sulfites?
The label line is a sensitivity warning. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau says sulfites are preservatives widely used in winemaking, that some people have sensitivities to them, and that a declaration is required where sulfur dioxide or a sulfiting agent is detected at 10 or more parts per million, measured as total sulfur dioxide, to alert those people.
The rule is in the regulations. Under 27 CFR 4.32, a wine label must carry the statement "Contains sulfites" or an equivalent where sulfur dioxide or a sulfiting agent is detected at 10 or more parts per million, a requirement that applies to wine bottled on or after July 9, 1987. The FDA applies the same threshold to food, saying various sulfiting agents are allowed as ingredients but, due in part to adverse reactions such as asthma in sensitive individuals, must be declared when the concentration is 10 parts per million or more total sulfites.
Fresh produce is treated differently. In the Federal Register of July 9, 1986, the FDA amended its rules on sulfur dioxide and other sulfiting agents to except their use on fruits and vegetables intended to be served or sold raw to consumers, or presented as fresh, from uses generally recognized as safe, concluding there was no current consensus that this use of sulfites is safe.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceTTB says sulfites are preservatives widely used in winemaking, some people have sensitivities to them, and a label declaration is required at 10 or more parts per million measured as total sulfur dioxide. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau ↗
- Regulatory filingUnder 27 CFR 4.32, a wine label must state Contains sulfites or an equivalent where sulfur dioxide or a sulfiting agent is detected at 10 or more parts per million, for wine bottled on or after July 9, 1987. US TTB, 27 CFR 4.32 (eCFR) ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA says sulfiting agents are allowed as food ingredients but, due in part to adverse reactions such as asthma in sensitive individuals, must be declared on labels at 10 parts per million or more total sulfites. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA said a sulfite present in a detectable amount in a finished food must be declared on the label, whether added directly or through an ingredient, and defined a detectable amount as 10 parts per million. US FDA, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
- Regulatory filingIn July 1986 the FDA excepted sulfiting agents used on fruits and vegetables intended to be served or sold raw, or presented as fresh, from uses generally recognized as safe, finding no consensus that the use is safe. US FDA, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.