ullo, sulphites in wine
Ullo claims to remove sulphites in wine, but do you believe it? And if so, is it necessary?
(Image credit: Ullo)

A gadget which is claimed to be able to filter out sulphites in wine as it is poured has launched in the UK following success in the US. Read more about it below, and also find links to our guides to sulphites in wine.

This story was first published in 2015 and has been updated in September 2016 and September 2017 Ullo’s commercial launches in US and UK.

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The device, named Ullo and pronounced ‘oo-lo’, is described by developer James Kornacki on Kickstarter as a ‘revolutionary purification’ product.

Kornacki has raised around $300,000 via crowdfunding. More than 2,000 investors signed up, according to a company statement.

From September 2016, Ullo went on sale for $79.99 via the company website, and from September 2017 it is available for £69.99 in the UK.

According to Ullo’s Kickstarter page, a wine drinker can place the gadget on top of their wine glass. A filter made from food grade polymer then removes sulphites in wine as it is poured – returning the wine to its ‘natural state’, according to the company.

Sulphites in wine has become a contentious issue. Many winemakers argue that – even in small amounts – they are essential in helping to prevent oxidisation and preserving freshness in wine.

But sulphites are a recognised allergen and their presence must be printed on bottle labels by law in the European Union, which sets maximum limits of 150mg per litre for red wines and 200mg per litre for white and rose wines. In the US, wines can contain up to 350mg per litre and ‘sulfites’ must also be printed on labels if present.

Several producers of so-called natural wine refuse to use sulfites at all, while others have sought to reduce usage in recent years.

By the end of 23 July 2015, Ullo had raised around $16,000. Kornacki, a chemistry graduate, founded Ullo as a business in 2014 in Chicago and said he created the device in partnership with design agency Minimal.

Ullo said 10 filters were likely to cost $20 and a launch is planned for February 2016.

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Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.