Many people enjoy a glass of wine but struggle with sulphites—preservatives added to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage. Similarly, seafood lovers often reach for a slice of lemon to enhance flavour and neutralize strong aromas. At first glance, these might seem unrelated, but they share a key similarity: both are small, natural additions that improve an experience without altering the essence of what you’re consuming.
A Natural Balance
A squeeze of lemon on fish isn’t just for taste. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which helps break down compounds that contribute to strong, “fishy” odours. It also enhances natural flavours and provides balance. Although acidic, lemon juice doesn’t “change” seafood—it simply makes it more enjoyable.
The Wine Drops work in much the same way. Instead of citric acid, they use a highly diluted, food-grade hydrogen peroxide solution—a permitted additive in winemaking—to neutralize sulphites in wine. Just as lemon juice reacts with certain compounds in fish, The Wine Drops react with sulphites, converting them into harmless sulphates. The result? A wine that tastes just as the winemaker intended, without the potential side effects some people experience from sulphites, like headaches or congestion.
A Gentle Reaction, Not an Alteration
One of the biggest misconceptions about The Wine Drops is that they somehow change the wine. In reality, the reaction is incredibly subtle and purely chemical, similar to what happens when you add lemon to seafood. The core flavours remain intact—just as fish still tastes like fish after a squeeze of lemon.
Sulphites are often added to wine to preserve freshness, but they can sometimes give off a slightly sharp or artificial note. By neutralizing sulphites, The Wine Drops allow the wine’s natural character to shine through, much like lemon enhances the freshness of seafood without overpowering it.
Safe, Simple, and Effective
Both The Wine Drops and lemon juice are safe and widely accepted in the culinary world. Food-grade hydrogen peroxide is a permitted wine additive that breaks down into just water and oxygen after reacting with sulphites. Similarly, lemon juice is a natural acid that helps maintain balance in many dishes.
Just as no one questions adding lemon to seafood, The Wine Drops offers a small, effective tweak that enhances the enjoyment of wine without compromising its integrity. Both are effortless, natural solutions that allow you to enjoy what you love—whether it’s a fresh seafood dish or a beautiful glass of wine—without the unwanted side effects.
For more information, visit www.thewinedrops.co.za or follow @thewinedrops on social media.
