A high demand from an increasing vegan population has led to a strong rise in production of vegan wine. But what does this actually mean? Read on to learn everything about this fascinating subject.
What is vegan wine?
Vegan wine is simply a wine that has been produced without using animal products. Animal products can be used in the fining process, a clarification process that many wines go through after fermentation. Some of these were historically derived from animals.
Substances, such as gelatine, isinglass and egg whites are some examples. Whilst all fining agents are removed, the resulting wine is unsuitable for vegans.
There are alternative winemaking techniques that work in similar ways and are vegan friendly.
How is vegan wine made?
Vegan wine made in largely the same as non-vegan wine. Grapes are harvested, crushed and pressed then fermented and sometimes aged.
After this is when the clarification process (fining) starts which can be vegan, or not.
Wine clarification uses additives into the wine in order to remove specific undesirable characters, like excess astringency and small particles. Fining agents are always removed after the process is over. Many of these additives are not vegan since they derive from animal products, so vegan wines must use alternative vegan-friendly fining agents.
Or indeed, some winemakers may choose to not fine their wines at all.
After the fining and filtering phase, the wine is ready to be aged and bottled.
What animal products are used in wine?
Some of the most common non-vegan fining wine agents include:
Egg whites
Egg whites are rich in a protein called Albumin, which binds to the wine’s tannins helping to make a smoother styled wine.
Gelatine
Gelatine is a by-product of the meat industry and rich in proteins. It is often used to create bright white and rose wines.
Isinglass
Isinglass is collected from the swim bladder of certain fish. It is protein-rich and can be used for softening red wines and making bright coloured white and rosé wines.
Casein and skimmed milk
Casein is a protein that easily binds to the wines’ tannins. It can be added in its pure form or as skimmed milk.
Blood and bone marrow
While blood and bone marrow were historically used in winemaking, they are now forbidden in most countries around the world, including the European Union.
Chitin
Chitin is a polysaccharide and it is the main component of the exoskeletons of crustaceans like shrimps, crabs and lobsters, as well as insects. The cell walls of fungi and yeast (like those in the wine) are also sources of chitin. Chitin works in the opposite way protein-based fining agents. It binds to excess proteins in white and rosé wines, protecting them from becoming hazy in the bottle.
Which fining agents are vegan?
The most popular vegan fining agents are:
carbon
bentonite clay
limestone
kaolin clay
plant casein
silica gel
vegetable plaques
Why are animal products used in winemaking?
Traditionally, animal products were the easiest available fining agents. They were used to soften the tannins of red wines. Tannins naturally bind to proteins. As the animal-based additives used in winemaking are rich in proteins, tannins will bind to them. Fining therefore makes wines smoother.
How to tell if a wine is vegan or vegetarian friendly?
Many certifications verify whether a wine is vegan or not, and many producers choose to become certified. Once an official certification has been issued, a special logo can be displayed on the wine label, indicating the wine is vegan.
Some vegans often choose to purchase wines that are labeled as “unfined”. Since non-vegan additives are mostly used only during the clarification and fining of the wines, unfined wines are most definitely vegan. Natural wines are also vegan since they use no additives, but there is no certification to prove their integrity.
According to European Union laws, all allergy-inducing substances used in wine must be listed on the back label, but only if there is enough of it in the resulting wine to cause allergies. So you may see ‘contains milk’ or ‘contains eggs’ on the back of a label, as well as the ubiquitous ‘contains sulphites’ that are on almost every bottle of wine in the world.
When buying wine in person, you can always ask for help at a wine store or even a supermarket. The staff will usually have a good knowledge of which winemakers do not use animal products when making wine. If you buy your wine online, many online merchants now specify which of their wines are vegan or have dedicated category pages for them.
You can also use dedicated online services to check whether what you intend to purchase is vegan, such as “Barnivore”, which is a very helpful online directory.
What are the differences between Vegan and Vegetarian wines?
In the winemaking of vegan wines, no fining agents deriving directly from animals or animal by-products are used. With vegetarian wines, vegetarian additives are accepted, like eggs or milk.
The use of all animal-derived additives is declining in the wine industry due to the increasing demand of natural, organic and vegan wines.
What are the differences between Vegan and Organic wines?
Organic wine is produced without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilisers or artificial chemicals. This refers to both the work in the vineyard and the winery. However, some organic wines may use animal products in the winemaking process.
By contrast, the term vegan refers to wines that are produced without using any animal products. This has nothing to do with whether the wine has been made organically or not. If you’re interested in what is allowed to be added to wine, our guide to wine additives and chemicals has some useful information.
History of Vegan wine
Vegan wines are as old as wine itself. In the past, wines were not clarified since they were made in an oxidised manner where clarification happened naturally. As wine evolved, so did winemaking techniques. The need to clarify the wine became key with an increasing production of red wines, since tannins were too harsh for the wine to be enjoyable. Bordeaux was one of the first areas in the world to use fining agents, notably egg whites and many producers in the region still use egg whites for fining to this day.
With the rise of the vegan and vegetarian movement, there has been an increasing awareness of the usage of animal products in wine. The trend became evident in the last decade, with many producers changing their production methods so that their wine can be sold as vegan.
There is still a long way to go regarding veganism and wine. Wine is a very traditional industry, with a plethora of eccentric producers, some of whom even refuse to communicate that their wine is vegan. However, it is becoming much easier to find vegan wines on the market, especially thanks to a boom in online sales.
Future of Vegan Wine
Vegan wine is here to stay, the numbers don't lie. There has been a 350% increase of vegans in the UK the past decade and 9% of the world population is now vegan or vegetarian. Those numbers are only rising.
Vegan wine goes hand in hand with current lifestyle trends. There is an increased focus on healthy living, limiting environmental impact and consuming less processed food. Vegan wine ticks all the boxes.
It is likely that more and more producers will switch to vegan winemaking. And of course, vegan wine is not only for vegans. It can be enjoyed by all wine drinkers regardless of their food preferences.
Italian Vegan-Friendly wines
Orion Wines
Orion Wines was created in 2010 by three veterans of the wine industry, with the objective of making excellent wine all over the Italy, from the Dolomites to the Sicilian costlines. They produce several vegan wines including Tannu, Tenute Fiorebelli, and Terre de Faiano.
Il Palagio
Located in the picturesque Tuscan hills, in the south of Florence, The Il Palagio estate and winery have always made vegan wines. One of their most famous cuvees, Sister Moon (named after Sting’s song), is aged for 18 months and made with Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is vegan. Find their wonderful bottles here.
Checci
The Checci family owns wineries all over central Italy, producing vegan-friendly wines. All Checci wineries also provide excellent ecotourism experiences, especially in their beautiful Tuscan vineyards. Find their selection here.
Querciabella
Based in Maremma on the Etruscan coast of Tuscany, Querciabella has 69 hectares of Chianti Classico vineyards. Querciabella takes grape growing and winemaking to the next level. They create wines that are organic, biodynamic and 100% vegan. This means not only do they avoid animal products in the fining process, they also refuse to use animal-based fertilisers. Find their wines here.
La Cantina Pizzolato
La Cantina Pizzolato is committed to producing high quality wines that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their dietary needs. They are based in the Veneto region and are certified vegan as they use bentonite to remove impurities. In particular high demand is their brand new Prosecco DOC Rose. Browse their wine selection here.
COS
Based in Sicily in the prestigious DOCG Cerasuolo di Vittoria, this winery goes back to its roots. Set in a striking landscape, COS is one of the most prominent organic and biodynamic wineries in Southern Italy. Find their wonderful bottles here.
Mezzacorona
Located in picturesque Trentino, next to the Dolomites, Mezzacorona is a cooperative that offers excellent value for money. All their wines are vegan, and there is a wide variety of wines to choose from: reds, whites, roses and sparklings. Pay particular attention to their Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer! Find their wine selection here.
Elio Sandri
This traditional Barolo DOCG producer only makes vegan wines. Their traditional winemaking processes include the use of large barrel formats and long ageing. No wines go through a fining process. Barolo in Langhe is one of the most beautiful areas in the North of Italy, with rolling hills and vineyards around every corner. Find their wines here.
Palazzo Grimani by Allegrini
Allegrini is one of the most historic wine producers in the Valpolicella region. Their Palazzo Grimani Amarone della Valpolicella is their most intriguing wine and an excellent choice for adventurous vegans. Grapes are dried for 3 months inside large warehouses and then vinified. The result is a full bodied wine, different from anything you’ve tasted before. Find their bottles here.
Barone Pizzini
Responsible for one of Italy’s finest sparkling wines, Barone Pizzini’s speciality is Franciacorta, whose bottles have received an incredible number of awards in the last 2 years alone. All their wines are organic and vegan. Visit their estate to discover their new bioclimatic winery, showing their commitment to the environment, in all aspects of production. Find their wines online.
FAQs
Can vegans drink wine?
Vegans can drink wine, as long as the wine does not contain animal products in the fining process. There are different ways to find out about which wines are vegan, read the article above to understand what to look out for.
Which alcohol is vegan?
Most spirits are vegan, because the process of distillation does not require clarification. Vodka, whiskey and rum will often be free of animal products, although sometimes spirits may be filtered through animal bones.
A cream-based spirit will usually contain dairy products. Some cocktails will contain milk, cream, eggs or sauces such as Worcester sauce which is not vegan. You will need to check beer and wine labels to see if the fining agents used are vegan.
Why is wine not vegan?
Because of products used to clarify and filter the wine, which sometimes derive from animal products. If the wine has been clarified a non-animal product (such as carbon, bentonite clay, limestone and so on), or it has not been clarified at all, then it will be vegan.
Does vegan wine taste different?
Vegan wine does not necessarily taste better or worse than non-vegan wine. Most wines are now vegan thanks to a decline in the use of animal based fining products. However, bear in mind wine labels often do not always disclose this information. Learn how to taste wine like a pro with our dedicated article.
Is vegan wine better for you?
It is important to consider that all wines contain alcohol, and there are serious health implications that come with over-drinking. However, many studies show how a moderate consumption of wine provides antioxidants to your body, which help against heart diseases and inflammations. Aside from that, vegan wine may be healthier if you have allergies to any of the animal-based fining agents used (gelatin, egg whites and so on).
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a challenge created by a UK charity, which involves going vegan for the entire month of January. It started in 2014 and since then it exploded with over 1 million people who committed to Veganuary in 2019 alone.
