🍷 Sulphur candle (barrel)

Sulphur candle treatment is the burning of a sulphur strip (wick) inside an empty barrel. This is how a barrel is prepared for storage or before refilling, so that no mould or harmful bacteria grow in it. When sulphur burns it turns into a gas, sulphur dioxide, which kills microorganisms. The wick is hung in the barrel, lit, and the opening is closed with a stopper. The gas fills the inner space and then dissolves in the leftover moisture, acting as a disinfectant. Before wine is poured in, the barrel is carefully aired. The same gas is used in small doses in the wine itself. It protects the wine from oxidation and bacteria and is counted among the sulphites. They are shown on the label as a possible allergen. Sulphites are harmful for some people, so their presence is declared. Burning sulphur is an old practice used by winemakers and coopers. It is needed because an oak barrel is porous and absorbs whatever is left in it. Other methods are also often used for storing empty barrels.