vegan wine (thing)

   Not as obvious to some as others might expect, vegan wine is wine that has been produced without the use of any animal-derived products during the winemaking process(!). This means that no animal-based fining agents or filtration aids were used, such as gelatin, egg whites, chitin, and casein. These substances help to clarify the wine by binding to impurities and removing them from the liquid.

Some vegan winemakers use plant-based alternatives to these animal products. Some common options are:

• Plant-based fining agents include pea protein, bentonite, and activated charcoal.


• Vegan filtration aids include diatomaceous earth and cellulose filters.

Others choose to vinify their wines without fining or filtering, which is one of the characteristics of natural wine.

Just as there are many peoples, and many wines (and wine bottle sizes), there are multiple reasons why there are those choosing to make and/or drink vegan wine:

• Ethical concerns: Many people choose vegan wine because they want to avoid animal exploitation.


• Health considerations: Some people believe that vegan wine may be healthier, as it avoids potential allergens and contaminants associated with animal-derived products.


• Taste preferences: Some people find that vegan wine tastes better or has a different flavor profile than traditional wine.

It's important to note that not all vegan wines are organic, neither are all organic wines vegan, nor even all organic vegan wines natural wines. The three terms are not synonymous (kind of like fresh, raw, and refrigerated), although they are often aspects of one another. Vegan wine simply refers to the absence of animal-derived products in the winemaking process.