Tonight I have been mostly drinking

[Harryburgundy]

In addition, I watched an interesting program on the television that was saying that an awful lot of wines and champagnes, including some well known labels, Veuve Clicquot is one I recall, use additives and improvers.

There are additives in our entire food-chain...obviously some worse than others. In wine the major preservative is Sulphur Dioxide.
This literally preserves the grape juice from oxidation (plus other benefits) and has been used for about 100 years. It can be and has been, over used...giving some wines an over sulpurous..just struck match smell..but really today it is used in correct levels.
You will find Sulphur Dioxide everywhere..no big deal.

 

[Pogo]

It's nice to see my 'Amputee ward' metaphor is in common and evolving usage throughout the site

Just got in from playing pool, had a nice pint of Theakstons Mild and on the way home picked up a bottle of Hooky Norton and another of XXXB. Damn fine breweries we have here in Blighty and it always amazes me how the Continentals just don't get our beer- perhaps it's down to the fact that Newcastle Brown seems to be their idea of bitter :?

 

[CAS]

Alsace Gewurztraminer for me!

 

[xerxes]

In wine the major preservative is Sulphur Dioxide.
This literally preserves the grape juice from oxidation (plus other benefits) and has been used for about 100 years. It can be and has been, over used...giving some wines an over sulpurous..just struck match smell..but really today it is used in correct levels.
You will find Sulphur Dioxide everywhere..no big deal.

The additives the program mentioned were far more extensive: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...d-be-listed-on-the-bottle-say-regulators.html

As I understand it, wine should contain one ingredient, grape juice. The grape should provide all the ingredients necessary for firmentation, including sugars and airborne yeast trapped in the bloom on the skin.

 

[retroyetirigid]

My usual Vodka & Dr Pepper for me. 3rd Park tools pint glass

 

[Enid_Puceflange]

R Whites Lemonade

Gc

 

[brocklanders023]

i like gallo
is that bad?

Used to like their Columbard (or sumfink) but don't see it so much any more.

Had to stick to a Spar special tonight as not much open after 6 on a Sunday round here. Think it was Echo Falls.

Had a whole weekend at a hotel on a Chablis? that my (rich) brother-in-law recommended. Tasted nice so my nephew and me hammered it. The £300 bill hurt. :shock: Note to self... Check the price before blindly ordering.

 

[Harryburgundy]

In wine the major preservative is Sulphur Dioxide.
This literally preserves the grape juice from oxidation (plus other benefits) and has been used for about 100 years. It can be and has been, over used...giving some wines an over sulpurous..just struck match smell..but really today it is used in correct levels.
You will find Sulphur Dioxide everywhere..no big deal.

The additives the program mentioned were far more extensive: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...d-be-listed-on-the-bottle-say-regulators.html

As I understand it, wine should contain one ingredient, grape juice. The grape should provide all the ingredients necessary for firmentation, including sugars and airborne yeast trapped in the bloom on the skin.

Have you tasted 'real' wines...those with virtually zero 'chemical' handling.
Very expensive ( niche market) and undrinkable. They look like the roughest cloudy cider you have ever tried....but taste worse.
Yes...there are many additives etc but as a general rule of thumb just avoid the mass produced brand wines that sadly dominate the UK wine trade.

 

[xerxes]

Have you tasted 'real' wines...those with virtually zero 'chemical' handling.

Can't say I have, and given your description of it, I don't think I'll bother. :shock:

When it comes right down to it, wine just doesn't butter my muffin. However, I think most people are under the impression that wine is ostensibly a wholesome and natural product. I wonder if people would be prepared to pay quite so much for it if the ingredients were listed on the bottle and more people were aware that they were drinking a fruit juice and chemical coctail which is no more wholsome or natural than a bottle of Blue WKD.

 

[Harryburgundy]

Have you tasted 'real' wines...those with virtually zero 'chemical' handling.

Can't say I have, and given your description of it, I don't think I'll bother. :shock:

When it comes right down to it, wine just doesn't butter my muffin. However, I think most people are under the impression that wine is ostensibly a wholesome and natural product. I wonder if people would be prepared to pay quite so much for it if the ingredients were listed on the bottle and more people were aware that they were drinking a fruit juice and chemical coctail which is no more wholsome or natural than a bottle of Blue WKD.

Generally speaking wine is a natural long-life product....wholesome?...well there is evidence that suggests moderate drinking has some health benefits.
Sadly, generally speaking, consumers are lazy/disinterested/whatever and no longer seem interested in acquiring some basic knowledge about anything they put in their mouth. Instead they embrace the comfort of brand awareness.
You are partially right(ish)...if you drink 'hero'* brand wines, for example Echo Falls, Gallo (cheap range), Hardy, Chenet et al,you are drinking wines that are heavily manipulated/sterilized and homogonised.
In short..don't buy from a supermarket and don't buy branded wines.

* I think that is marketing speak for mega brands