Eggshell in Wine?

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:23 pm

Not so long ago I was reading a label on bottle of wine at a liquor outlet (can't remember the brand) and it mentioned quite clearly 'may contain traces of eggshell'. Why and how would this benefit the wine?

Thanks

Phil

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:34 pm

Phil,

In reality I may contain iron too but you are unlikely to find iron filings or chunks of it floating around my veins.

Egg white is used to (sometimes) 'fine' the wine which removes some of the sediment and gunk prior to bottling. About 4 egg whites will do a huge vat of wine and the egg whites inevitably end up trapped with the solids at the bottom of the blending tank and don't find their way into the wine.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:35 pm

Fining and filtering before bottling

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:49 pm

TORB wrote:Egg white is used to (sometimes) 'fine' the wine which removes some of the sediment and gunk prior to bottling. About 4 egg whites will do a huge vat of wine and the egg whites inevitably end up trapped with the solids at the bottom of the blending tank and don't find their way into the wine.

Thanks TORB

Isn't this going a far though? If it's only part of the process and if their isn't likely to be any traces in the bottle why put the question in the mind of the consumer, just wouldn't have thought it necessary.

Phil

Muscat Mike · Post by **Muscat Mike** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:56 pm

I guess to protect themselves if someone with an egg allergy has anaphylaxis, or even a simple allergic reaction.
MM

michel · Post by **michel** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:57 pm

Anonymous wrote:

Isn't this going a far though? If it's only part of the process and if their isn't likely to be any traces in the bottle why put the question in the mind of the consumer, just wouldn't have thought it necessary.

Phil

Two reasons
1. as said above may cause anaphylaxis to the consumer
2. to meet certain EU and importation requirments you must do this or it will not be imported
michel

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:59 pm

Muscat Mike wrote:I guess to protect themselves if someone with an egg allergy has anaphylaxis, or even a simple allergic reaction.
MM

Hello

Potential anaphylaxis is, I believe, the reason. Many things now say 'may contain traces of nut products' for this reason. Often they contain no nuts, but are made in the same factory with contamination possible.

I think MM's right on this one.

GraemeG · Post by **GraemeG** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 5:01 pm

Dr Middleton (of Mount Mary) had a bit of a spray about this in the recent newsletter. The labelling change is not something winemakers have taken upon themselves, rather it is a consequence of changes to food labelling laws.

Problem is, as Middleton points out, trace elements of fining ingredients such as egg whites (not shells, I hope) may or may not remain in the wine. Whether testing to find them is even possible seems to be an unknown. So we have the ludicrous situation where the label tells you that traces may remain - no guarantee one way or the other. Silly really.

There have certainly not been any changes to the way the wines are being made, only to what's shown on the label.

cheers,
Graeme

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 5:08 pm

michel wrote:
Two reasons
1. as said above may cause anaphylaxis to the consumer
2. to meet certain EU and importation requirments you must do this or it will not be imported
michel

Thanks everyone!

Phil

brad · Post by **brad** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 5:49 pm

Gavin Trott wrote:
Muscat Mike wrote:I guess to protect themselves if someone with an egg allergy has anaphylaxis, or even a simple allergic reaction.
MM

Hello

Potential anaphylaxis is, I believe, the reason. Many things now say 'may contain traces of nut products' for this reason.

Gavin, nuts are actually used in some tannin additives.

All everybody needs to know is here, http://www.awbc.com.au/winelaw/wine_label_law.asp#al_label, but it changes often! Very difficult to keep up sometimes.

Look for Allergen Labelling in the index.

Not just for exporting either - domestic too.

Cheers, Brad

The Auswine Forum

Eggshell in Wine?

Eggshell in Wine?

For people with allergies to eggs Phil.

Re: For people with allergies to eggs Phil.

Re: For people with allergies to eggs Phil.