What is a ‘Vegan Wine’?

Wine is the product of grapes and yeast, so it would seem that all wine is vegan, however, that is not always the case.

If a wine is left alone long enough during the fining process (which is when the wine is filtered and stabilized during winemaking), the wine will self-stabilize and self-fine. Traditionally, producers have used a variety of aids to help speed up the fining process, many of which are not considered a part of a vegan diet. Casein (animal milk protein), albumin (egg whites), gelatin (animal protein), and isinglass (fish bladder protein), have all been used as fining agents. That said, these aids are removed out of the wine along with the impurities they attract, meaning that even though the aid is not-vegan there are no residuals left afterwards in the wine.

In order to make wine that is considered vegan or vegan friendly, winemakers must avoid fining or use vegan fining agents. Today, many winemakers have taken a new direction using vegan-friendly, clay-based fining agents such as bentonite and even activated charcoal. Bentonite is so effective and inexpensive, that it has become a favorite among winemakers, and most wines today are vegan friendly even if not labeled as such.