Sulfur dioxide is widely used as a preservative in winemaking owing to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. However, it exerts adverse effects on health, causing dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In the present study, we used α-pinene, which is a fragrant monomeric compound derived from fruit-aroma compounds, as an alternative for SO 2 in white wine fermentation. Three concentrations of αpinene, 0.03125 g/100 mL, 0.0625 g/100 mL, and 0.125 g/100 mL were used. White wine added with SO 2 at 40 ppm was also used (SO 2 group). The white wine without addition of SO 2 and α-pinene as used as the control. Total bacterial count and physicochemical characteristics including pectin content, degree of esterification, ethanol content, color, total phenolic acid content, and DPPH activity were analyzed. The antibacterial activities of αpinene groups were similar to SO 2 group but significantly higher than the control group. Specifically, 0.03125 g/100 mL and 0.0625 g/100 mL αpinene groups showed significantly higher transmittance, L values, and color values than the control at the day 180, which suggested that the addition of α-pinene effectively inhibited the browning of white wine during storage. These findings indicated that α-pinene possessed an excellent antibacterial ability and could be a viable alternative for SO 2 in winemaking.