A Guide to Vegan Wines for a Perfect Plant-Based Gathering
Wine has been a staple at gatherings for centuries, and many vegan hosts and hostesses may wonder which wines are suitable for their plant-based guests. The following guide provides an essential introduction to vegan wines, including common animal-based additives, labels to look out for, and popular vegan wine brands.
What Makes Wine Non-Vegan?
Many wines are non-vegan because of the use of animal-based fining agents. These agents are added to wine after the fermentation process to clarify the liquid by removing cloudiness, sediment, and other impurities. The most common animal-based fining agents are:
- Isinglass: made from the swim bladders of fish
- Casein: a milk protein
- Gelatin: made from animal collagen
- Albumin: an egg protein
If you’re a vegan and want to ensure that the wine you’re drinking is also vegan-friendly, you’ll want to look for wines that are fined with non-animal products.
How to Identify Vegan Wine?
Unfortunately, winemakers are not required to note animal products on wine labels. However, many vegan wine brands note the use of non-animal-based-finings or leave the wine unrefined, so there will be no need for fining agents. You can look for any of these vegan-certified labels:
- Vegetarian - this means the wine doesn't include any animal-derived ingredients
- Vegan - this means the wine is both animal-free and didn't use any animal products during production
- Unfined/Unfiltered - this means the wine wasn't refined or filtered with animal products
Popular Vegan Wine Brands
Here are some well-known brands in the vegan wine industry that produce wines perfect for plant-based gatherings:
- Beyond Broke - Offers entirely vegan wine, including their fan-favorite red blend
- Erath - One of the most eco-conscious wineries in the world, and nearly all its wines are vegan
- Frey Vineyards - America’s first organic and vegan winery
- Barefoot - Offers an array of vegan wine options, including red blends and white wines
Conclusion
With the growing popularity of plant-based gatherings, the demand for vegan wines has increased over the years. Many wine brands are now producing vegan wine, and identifying it is becoming more comfortable. As a vegan host, looking into your wine options will delight your guests and ensure they feel included and catered to during your gathering.
