What is Vegan Wine?
When you think of wine, you might assume it's naturally vegan. After all, isn't it just fermented grape juice? However, the truth is a bit more complex. Many wines are, in fact, not vegan-friendly due to the processes used in their production. Let's dive into what makes a wine vegan and why some wines aren't.
The Winemaking Process
To understand vegan wine, we first need to look at the winemaking process. After grapes are crushed and fermented, the liquid is sometimes filtered to remove sediment and clarify the wine. This process, known as fining and filtering, is where animal products often come into play.
Common Animal-Derived Fining Agents
Traditionally, winemakers have used various fining agents to help remove unwanted particles from wine. Some common fining agents include:
- Egg whites
- Casein (milk protein)
- Gelatin (animal protein)
- Isinglass (fish bladder protein)
These animal-derived products are effective in binding with unwanted protein particles, making them easier to filter out. However, their use means that the final product isn't vegan.
What Makes a Wine Vegan?
Vegan wines are those made without the use of animal products at any stage of the production process. This includes:
- Using no animal-derived fining agents (like bentonite clay)
- Ensuring all ingredients and additives are plant-based or other.
- Avoiding animal-based products in the vineyard (such as certain fertilizers)
Vegan Alternatives
Fortunately, many winemakers are now opting for vegan-friendly alternatives in their fining process. These include:
- Bentonite clay
- Activated charcoal
- Plant casein
- Plant-based enzymes
Some winemakers (call them natural, minimal intervention, or pre-industrial) are also choosing to leave their wines unfiltered, which naturally keeps them vegan. They do this by simply allowing gravity to do the work for them, leaving the wine undisturbed for a period of time and racking the clear liquid of the gunk that settles on the bottom of the container.
How to Identify Vegan Wines
Finding vegan wines can be tricky, as wine labels aren't required to list fining agents. However, here are some tips:
- Look for "vegan" on the label
- Check for vegan certification symbols
- Research the winery's production methods
- Ask your local wine shop for recommendations (us 😊)
Conclusion
It is pretty easy for a winemaker to craft a vegan wine. There aren't many roadblocks in doing so. Many times, wine will be safe for vegans, but it wont mention it anywhere on the label because either the winery didn't think to place it, or because they aren't necessarily trying to market their wine expressly for vegans. We haven't done the math, but we'd say 90% of the wines on Harvest Wine Shop are safe for vegans.Wine 101
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