What is vegan wine?

Everything You Need to Know About Vegan Wine

Just like the vegan lifestyle and plant-based diet, which exclude any animal products, vegan wine is entirely made from plant-based ingredients. At first glance, this may seem obvious since wine comes from grapes. However, traditional winemaking methods often involve animal-derived substances during the fining process, raising questions about what makes a wine truly vegan.

In fact, many winemakers use products such as egg whites, fish glue, or casein (a milk protein) to “clarify” the wine and remove particles. This winemaking step, known as wine clarification, is where the difference lies between conventional wine and authentic vegan wine.

Vegan Wine vs Organic Wine: What’s the Difference?

While both vegan wines and organic wines share a commitment to sustainability, they are not the same. Organic wine regulations ban certain additives like gelatin or blood albumin but still allow egg whites and casein. By contrast, vegan wines avoid all animal products, using only plant-based fining agents such as pea, potato, or wheat protein, or even choosing no fining at all.

This distinction is key for consumers who want to align their vegan lifestyle with their wine choices, whether enjoying bold red wines, crisp whites, or natural wines with minimal intervention.

Vegan Labels: Guaranteeing 100% Plant-Based Wine

Identifying a vegan wine can be challenging unless you ask the winemaker directly. Fortunately, recent certifications such as Label V and E.V.E Vegan (introduced in 2016) now guarantee that a wine is 100% plant-based. Although still relatively rare in France, these vegan wine labels are growing in visibility, mirroring the rise in popularity of organic wines and natural wines worldwide.

As consumer demand for ethical and sustainable products continues to grow, vegan wines are expected to become an essential part of modern wine culture, appealing to wine lovers who value both taste and conscious living.

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FAQ - Vegan wine

What is wine fining?

Fining, or clarification, adds an agent that binds and then removes the particles and yeast residues suspended in the wine. Traditional fining agents are often animal-derived, which makes the wine non-vegan.

Is organic wine always vegan?

No. Organic wine rules ban products such as gelatin or blood albumin, but they still allow egg whites and casein. An organic wine is therefore not necessarily vegan, and the other way around.

How can you tell if a wine is vegan?

The safest way is to buy directly from the producer and ask. Since 2016, labels such as Label V and E.V.E Vegan also certify that a wine is 100% plant-based.

Why isn't every wine plant-based?

Grapes are plant-based, but winemaking may rely on animal fining agents such as egg white, fish glue or milk casein to clarify the wine. These substances keep the wine from being fully plant-based.