Wine is fermented grape juice, so it ought to be vegan by default. Surprisingly, plenty of it is not, and the reason has nothing to do with what goes into the bottle and everything to do with how the wine is clarified before it gets there. Here is what makes a wine non-vegan, and how to find the ones that are.
Wine Is Grapes, So What’s the Problem?
Young wine is often hazy with tiny particles of yeast, proteins and other matter. To clear it, winemakers use a step called fining, adding an agent that binds to those particles and pulls them out. The catch is that several traditional fining agents are animal-derived:
- Egg white (albumen), common for red wine
- Casein, a milk protein
- Gelatin, from animal collagen
- Isinglass, from fish swim bladders
Almost all of the agent is removed afterwards, but because animal products are used in the process, the wine is not considered vegan, and some are not vegetarian either.
The Vegan-Friendly Alternatives
Plenty of producers fine with bentonite, a mineral clay, or with pea protein and other plant agents, and some skip fining altogether and simply let the wine settle or filter it. Any of these routes makes a wine suitable for vegans.
How to Tell If a Wine Is Vegan
- Look for a vegan logo or “suitable for vegans” on the back label. This is the only certain signal.
- “Unfined” or “unfiltered” often means vegan, though not always, so treat it as a strong hint rather than proof.
- Check a directory. Community sites such as Barnivore list thousands of wines by brand.
- Ask the merchant. A good wine shop can usually tell you or find out.
Styles More Likely to Qualify
Natural wine is frequently vegan, because minimal-intervention making tends to skip animal fining. Organic and biodynamic wines are also a good bet, as are many orange wines, which are typically unfined. None of these guarantees it, but the odds are far better.
Vegan Versus Vegetarian
The distinction matters. A wine fined with egg white or casein may be acceptable to some vegetarians but is not vegan. One fined with isinglass or gelatin is neither. If you eat a plant-based diet, the vegan logo is the cleanest way to be sure. Our guide to wines for vegetarians covers the pairing side once you have your bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is some wine not vegan?
Wine is clarified using fining agents, and traditional ones are animal-derived: egg white, casein from milk, gelatin and isinglass from fish. Almost all is removed, but because animal products are used, the wine is not considered vegan, and some are not vegetarian.
How can you tell if a wine is vegan?
Look for a vegan logo or ‘suitable for vegans’ on the label, which is the only certain sign. ‘Unfined’ or ‘unfiltered’ is a strong hint. You can also check community directories like Barnivore, or simply ask the merchant.
Are natural and organic wines vegan?
Often, but not always. Natural, organic and biodynamic wines frequently skip animal fining, which makes them a good bet, and many orange wines are unfined too. None of these labels guarantees it, so check for a vegan mark to be sure.
Explore with Sommo
The hard part of buying vegan wine is keeping track of which producers qualify, because the label rarely shouts about it. Scan the bottles you find with Sommo, note the ones confirmed vegan, and build a personal shortlist you can trust. Next time you are in the shop, your own history does the remembering for you.
Download Sommo free and keep your vegan wine finds in one place.