Nov 2003
What are those packages - Part III
November, 2003 Filed in: Wine making
We continue our series on What are those packages in my wine kit. This month .... Potassium metabisulphite
Not to be confused with Sodium metabisulphite (the smelly stuff), which is the sterilizing agent, used to insure clean bottles and equipment. However, both potassium (KMS for short) and sodium metabisulphite share the same ability that when reacted with water they form sulphur dioxide (SO2 for the chemists). SO2 is the culprit that kills harmful bacteria that can spoil your wine. KMS is preferred to its cousin sodium metabisulphite because it does not contain sodium an important consideration for those on low sodium diets.
KMS also serves another function. It is an anti-oxidant. If KMS were not added to your wine it would not likely last longer than 6 months before going bad. We recommend that if you intend to keep some of your wine longer than a year you should add an additional small amount of KMS just prior to bottling. We sell KMS in 50 gm. bags.
Next month... Clearing agents
Not to be confused with Sodium metabisulphite (the smelly stuff), which is the sterilizing agent, used to insure clean bottles and equipment. However, both potassium (KMS for short) and sodium metabisulphite share the same ability that when reacted with water they form sulphur dioxide (SO2 for the chemists). SO2 is the culprit that kills harmful bacteria that can spoil your wine. KMS is preferred to its cousin sodium metabisulphite because it does not contain sodium an important consideration for those on low sodium diets.
KMS also serves another function. It is an anti-oxidant. If KMS were not added to your wine it would not likely last longer than 6 months before going bad. We recommend that if you intend to keep some of your wine longer than a year you should add an additional small amount of KMS just prior to bottling. We sell KMS in 50 gm. bags.
Next month... Clearing agents