Campden Tablets

Campden Tablets for Winemaking

Sulfur Dioxide (sulfite) or Campden Tablets (a pre-measured form of Sulfur Dioxide) has been used for thousands of years in the winemaking process. Sulfur dioxide acts as an anti-oxidant (keeps wine from browning) and as an anti-bacterial. Campden tablets are a convenient, premeasured form of sulfite making it easy for the home winemaking to add just the correct amount of sulfur to the wine or must. Campden tablets are especially helpful for those making small batches (less than 5 gallons). One tablet added to one gallon of wine or must will add 30-50ppm of free sulfur dioxide.

The recommended dose for most wines is 1-2 tablets per gallon:

1) Before fermentation begins (to knock out wild yeasts and bacteria)

2) When all fermentation is done and before bulk aging

3) At bottling to improve ageability by decreasing oxidation and keeping the wine stable.

The Grape and Granary stocks several types of tablets including Campden which must be crushed prior to adding to the must, and Oenosteryl Effervescent Tablets which do not need to be crushed but dissolve by themselves. Oenosteryl tablets are best for larger batches (10 gallons or more).

For those winemakers making 5 gallon batches or larger, you can also use Potassium Metabisulfite powder (PMS) which is easier to dose than campden tablets for larger batch sizes.

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