So you decided to take your wine tasting experience to the next level and buying a wine purifier…
Or maybe you have seen those adverts from Üllo that promote their product and say something like “Wine Filter No Hangover!“
Maybe you want to know how to remove sulfites from wine, because you read some article about it and are concerned about your health.
Well, you came to the right place as we put together this Üllo wine purifier review and in this article, you will learn everything there is to know about the purification process, its ins and outs and whether or not you should try this Üllo device out…
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Why does my wine need purifying?
All wines have added preservatives. Most of them are sulfites and they are being added to the beverage during the production process, because it helps to prevent pre-mature aging and oxidation.
On the other hand, once you open the bottle, you don’t need the sulfites in the drink anymore. Presuming you opened a great bottle, you are about to drink it in a few moments… Unfortunately, sulfur compounds do impact the flavor if not removed.
You may drink the same wine yet experiencing different taste or having a different after taste, depending just on the purity level of your drink. Wine purifiers are therefore meant to remove sulfites before you drink, giving you a pure and more pleasurable experience, as if you were drinking it right out of the vineyard.
Sulfites are impurities that should be removed. They are the main causes of bloating and gastric issues and some people can be allergic to them. We recommend to read this great article on Wired.com.
There are at least hundreds of thousands wine drinkers allergic to sulfites. If the drink is not purified before drinking, people who are allergic can get terrible headaches, bloating, rashes, asthma or even seizures.
Where do these sulfur compounds come from?
Wine production is a complex chemical process that requires various additives to deliver the result that enthusiasts enjoy.
One of the primary challenges in the making process is something called microbial contamination, which is being closely observed at the fermentation process.
Fermentation process is responsible for the conversion of fructose from grapes into ethyl alcohol. It is very delicate process with the primary agent being anaerobic yeast, responsible for the alcoholic fermentation.
However, the possibility of other microorganisms competing for the same fructose that is used up in the process is high. The involvement of additional microorganisms might result into alteration of the fermentation process.
This is where sulfur compounds come in…
Sulfites have proven to be the most effective way that is pursued by wineries to eradicate this unwanted alteration. Nowadays, they are always being added and act as a very effective preservative.
It may be worth mention that sulfur compounds exist in the wine quite naturally. Sulfites are also present in many other different types of food, again, completely naturally. For example, dry fruits or raisins contain many naturally occurring sulfites.
Naturally occurring sulfites are of no concern here, because they appear in a very small volume and rarely cause any problems. The problem arises out of the added sulfites, which are being added by wineries…
So can you remove sulfites from wine? That is where the filtering device from Üllo comes in…
Üllo Wine Purifier Review
Now let’s take a closer look at this device from ÜLLO…
First off, there is quite a few products on the market that will filter your wine just fine. We have tried three purifiers and they are very similar to the one another. What makes the difference is the technology behind the whole thing. Üllo is the product of James Kornacki, who holds a doctorate in Chemistry and specializes on selective sulfite capture.
They were one of the first companies on the market, their device has received the most popularity over the last years and it really offers everything you’d need. That’s why we decided to have a closer look at this device specifically and not the other ones.
So what is it?
It is the system, which is designed to solve the problem with the high amount of sulfur inside your wine. Üllo says that it is “a revolutionary system that brings the wine back to its natural taste”…
Purifying your drink is as simple as pouring it through the filter on its way to the glass. Üllo is placed on the top of the glass, but you can also see the purifiers being fixed on bottles when filtering larger quantities.
As you can see, it has a very simple design, is very simple to use and the effect it has on your drink will really surprise you!
How does Üllo device work?
The principle behind wine purification is chemical in nature. Most purifiers use a sieve that is made using a compound that attracts sulfites and binds with them, leaving your final drink cleaner.
Üllo purifier approaches the problem by using a special filter that selects and captures sulfur dioxide (it’s all about the technology). At the same time, it is ensured that the other compounds that give your wine its desired taste remain within the drink.
Ok, so it works by filtering the wine as it is poured on the glass… But how exactly does it work? Well, let’s have a closer look.
Üllo purifier removes sulfur compounds and sediments, which are no longer needed once we open the bottle. It plays the critical role of selecting the sulfur compounds from the drink and enclosing them in an encapsulated polymer filter that captures them. As you can see on the image, its design is very simple.
Üllo has a triple system made of three distinct components that work together. The cup, the filter, and the aerator play this central role through a combined effort.
First, wine is being poured into the plastic cup…
Plastic cup is made of stainless silicone that is strain resistant, which makes it really easy to clean. Its size is good enough and its design is clever – if there’s one thing that you don’t need to worry about, it is whether or not will Üllo match your glass.
Second, it goes through the porous filter…
Filter is made of grade polymer and its main feature is its removal of sulfites and other sediments in a purely selective, chemical process.
After it captures sulfites, you may notice that there is actually an aerator at the bottom. This is a very nice addition as it aerates your wine before it reaches the glass. It’s worth mentioning, that you can also twist if off and pour the drink inside the glass without aerating it.
At the end, purified drink is falling down into the glass…
Bottom part is transparent and is designed to fit on top of many different wine glasses. As you can see, Üllo comes in a stylish design that not only makes it suitable for use but also appealing to the eye.
Initial And Replacement Filters
The package from Üllo comes with an initial set of 4 little filters. The picture you see on the right-hand side is how it looks like when you buy the replacement pack, which is set of 10 filters and you can get them on Üllo website for as low as $29.99 (or you can also get a 6-pack for $25.40).
The package comes with a helpful step by step guide, but the process is very simple…
You put the filter inside of the purifier, click it back together, place the purifier on top of the glass of wine and once you have your wine filtered and inside your glass, it’s recommended to wait around 2 minutes before it’s ready to be drunk. This is just to give the sediments time to settle down…
Important thing to note is that they recommend to use only one filter per each new open bottle. We tried to use the same filter on two bottles of the same type of wine and and even when we used it for another bottle after just one or two hours, the effect was indeed not the same.
Therefore, you need to keep in mind that once you own the actual purifier, you will need to keep ordering replacement filters, which is how Üllo makes the most money.
“Wine filter no headaches! Getting rid of hangover?
You might have seen Üllo saying that it removes the headaches. Well, although the common perception has been that sulfur compounds are a major cause of headaches, the direct link between the two has not yet been scientifically proven.
That being said, using Üllo for a couple of years now, although it doesn’t free you from the headaches completely, it helps with headaches quite significantly, however, it always depends on the person. Most of our friends say it has helped them with the headaches, however, few people told us that it doesn’t help at all. Of course, the effect of wine purification is always more helpful for people who are already allergic to sulfur.
Conclusion, Pros & Cons Table
Here’s our simple pros and cons table. It lists all important things that you need to consider before making a final decision whether or not to buy their filtering device.
- Very likable design
- Super easy to use
- Firm frame, durable
- You can aerate your wine
- Can remove the headaches
- A bit more expensive
- You need to buy replacement filters
- Some people can’t notice any difference in taste
- You can use only one filter per bottle
- Need more purifying? Need more filters…
Below is the official video from Üllo website, if you are interested to see what they have to say about their device. You can find the comparison table underneath as we’ve mentioned quite a lot of things about this device.
Should you still need more information before you make a final decision to buy this great product, you can visit the manufacturer website.
We hope that you have found our little review useful. Please don’t forget to give us the feedback and feel free to use the comment area if you want to ask about something, share with us your experience or just say hi :-).
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