Vegan Wines

Vegans can drink wines that are made without using animal-derived fining agents during production. This includes wines labeled as "vegan-friendly," "unfined," or explicitly marked as vegan. Many natural wines are vegan by default as they often skip the fining process altogether. Popular vegan wine varieties include everything from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with options available from most major wine regions worldwide.

Not all wine is vegan. Traditional winemaking often involves using animal-derived fining agents such as egg whites, gelatin, casein (milk protein), and isinglass (fish bladder). However, many modern winemakers now use vegan alternatives like bentonite clay, activated charcoal, or plant-based proteins. Some wines are also unfined and unfiltered, making them naturally vegan. To be certain, look for wines explicitly labeled as vegan or check with the producer or retailer.

Vegan wine is wine produced without using any animal-derived products in its production process. The main difference occurs during the fining stage, where traditional winemaking might use animal products to remove unwanted particles and improve clarity. Vegan wines instead use plant-based fining agents or skip the fining process entirely. The taste, quality, and alcohol content of vegan wines are comparable to conventional wines—the difference is purely in the production methods used.

Wine is often not vegan due to the fining process, which traditionally uses animal-derived products to remove unwanted particles and improve clarity. Common animal-derived fining agents include: Egg whites (albumin), Gelatin (from animal bones and connective tissues), Isinglass (from fish bladders), Casein (milk protein).

These ingredients aren't in the final product but are used during production. Additionally, some wines may use beeswax to seal bottles or contain honey as an additive in certain sweet wines. Traditional practices at some vineyards might also use animal products in the growing process, such as bone meal fertilizers.

Vegetarian wine is produced without using fining agents derived from animal flesh or products that required animal slaughter. While vegetarian wines avoid ingredients like gelatin and isinglass (from fish), they may still use animal by-products like egg whites (albumin) or milk protein (casein) in the fining process. This distinguishes them from vegan wines, which avoid all animal-derived ingredients. Vegetarian wines are more common than fully vegan options, though both categories are growing as consumer awareness increases.

Yes, sulphites are vegan. Sulphites (also spelled sulfites) are compounds that occur naturally during fermentation and are often added as preservatives in winemaking. They are inorganic compounds containing sulphur and oxygen, not derived from animals or animal products. The concern around sulphites in wine is typically related to allergies, sensitivities, or preferences for fewer additives: not vegan status. Both conventional and vegan wines may contain sulphites, though some natural wines aim to minimise added sulphites for other reasons.