When you’re sipping a glass of wine, it probably doesn’t occur to you whether or not it’s vegan. Why would it? After all, wine comes from grapes.
During a process known as “fining,” some winemakers use animal products to improve the taste and appearance of the wine.
If you’re wondering whether or not the wine you’re sipping is vegan, there are a few ways to tell.
In this article, we’re breaking down parts of the winemaking process and defining what it means for a wine to be considered vegan.
Why Not All Wines Are Vegan
During the winemaking process, the juice from the crushed grapes (grape must) goes through fermentation, when natural sugars are converted into alcohol. What’s left behind are the remaining tannins, phenols, and proteins from grape skins, seeds, and stems, creating a somewhat astringent, unpleasant texture.
Since these natural components are too small to be filtered out, the wine enters a process called “fining” or “clarification.”
What Are Fining Agents?
While some winemakers use filters to rid the wine of unwanted sediment, filters can only catch so much. This is where fining agents come in, speeding up the fermentation process and absorbing microscopic compounds.
The agent sinks to the bottom of the wine and binds to the unwanted particles like glue. All the winemaker has to do is remove the compound, resulting in a smoother, less tannic wine with a brighter color.
Here are some common fining agents wine producers may use:
Egg Whites
The simplest and most traditional fining method is still practiced in many Old World regions like Bordeaux. The use of egg whites is the most common for robust red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and light red wines like Pinot Noir. Since tannins have a negative ionic charge and eggs have a positive ionic charge, even the harshest tannins can be removed this way, resulting in a smooth yet still-structured wine.
Casein (Milk Protein)
This protein gives wine a brilliant clarity, removing the oxidative taint that results from cloudy organic compounds. Skim milk can also be used as a binding agent, which is common when producing Sauvignon Blanc.
Gelatin
Used in both red and white winemaking, gelatin is a protein found in animal bones and hides. While gelatin gives red wine its suppleness and white wine more clarity and bright colors, this, unfortunately, means they’re far from vegan.
Isinglass
This agent comes from swim bladders of fish like sturgeon and is less common today than in the past. Isinglass for giving the wine a better sheen and clarity.
Chitosan
Unlike some other agents listed, this agent is a carbohydrate instead of a protein. From the shells of crustaceans, chitosan is ideal for removing excess color and phenols from white wine.
This is how wine has been fined and clarified traditionally through the ages, but many processes use plant and charcoal-based substances instead of animal products.
What Makes a Wine Vegan Friendly?
More popular in recent years, vegan wine is wine with no animal-based products used in production.
Instead, winemakers use PVPP (plastic) and bentonite clay that bind to and sift out unwanted sediment. Bentonite, in particular, is popular for fining delicate Rosé Wine.
Here’s how to tell if your wine is 100% vegan.
Check the Label
Wines labeled “vegan” have been certified by organizations such as the Vegan Society or Vegan Action. If you’re still unsure whether or not your wine is certified vegan, you can contact the winery for further clarification. However, vegan wines will usually say so on the label.
There are many vegan wine brands worth exploring, making your journey to finding the perfect vegan-friendly wine much more straightforward.
Seek Out “Unfined” and “Unfiltered Wine”
Still unsure about the legitimacy of the “vegan” label? There’s another way to ensure that your wine is indeed a vegan-friendly product.
Wines labeled “unfined” or “unfiltered” are always vegan, meaning they have been produced without a fining agent. Over time, a wine will clarify itself naturally. The reason binding agents, both animal-based and vegan, are used is to speed up the process.
Be sure to research when searching for an unfiltered wine, as certain bacteria and textures may still exist.
The Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian Wine
All vegan wine is vegetarian, but not all vegetarian wine is vegan. While vegetarian wine may not use fining agents directly from the animal, the process can still be accomplished with animal products, such as eggs or casein.
If you’re following a vegan diet or simply curious about vegan options for wine, it’s important to distinguish between vegan and vegetarian.
Explore Environmentally Conscious Alternatives
Continue your vegan food journey by researching vegan wine brands and vegan-labeled and unfiltered wine. There is so much the wine industry has to offer, and lately, the push for environmentally conscious winemaking has been growing.
If you’d like to enrich your wine knowledge further, check out our Podcast and Wine Online 101 for everything related to the wine world.
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