What is Vegan Wine | Isn't All Wine Vegan?

Vegan wine is a type of wine where no animal-derived fining agents are used during the clarification process.

As discussed in our exploration of natural wine, wine in its most basic form is simply fermented grape juice. So why isn't all wine vegan? To understand this, we need to examine the wine clarification process. Most wines undergo clarification, except for unfined and unfiltered varieties.


The Clarification Process

The primary goal of clarification is to remove suspended solid matter from the wine, resulting in a clear product with minimal solid particles. This process typically involves two complementary and successive phases:

  • Fining: Adding a fining agent that binds with solid particles in the wine, forming a compound that is easier to remove.
  • Filtering: Removing the compound formed by the fining agent, effectively separating solid matter from the liquid.


How Does Fining Wine Work?

the clarification process not used to make natural wine
  1. Wine fermenting with sediment: including dead yeast cells, grape skins, pips, stems, and other solid particles.
  2. Fining agents are added to the wine in liquid or powder form. These agents can be animal-derived.
  3. Fining agents combine with solid particles, creating compounds that are easier to filter out.


Animal-Based Fining Agents

The reason some wines are not vegan is due to the use of animal-based fining agents. If a wine has been fined with any of the following agents, it cannot be considered vegan. On the other hand, unfined and unfiltered wines, like most natural wines, are typically vegan-friendly.

Egg White

Egg white is a common fining agent used in the clarification and stabilization of wine, particularly red wines. It is especially effective at reducing tannins, which cause astringency in wines made from highly tannic grape varieties.

Casein

Casein, a milk protein, is used to clarify white wines, which tend to oxidize more quickly than reds, causing them to turn brown.

Gelatin

Gelatin, derived from boiling animal tissues, is another common fining agent, particularly for red wines. It is usually added in crystal form.

Isinglass

Isinglass is a gelatin made from fish bladder, primarily used in the clarification of white wines.


Non-Animal-Based Fining Agents

In addition to animal-based fining agents, there are several non-animal-based alternatives. These can be plant-based, extracted from algae or grape skins (in the case of tannins), or synthetic.


Clarified vs. Unfined and Unfiltered

Clarification is a common practice in modern winemaking, and most conventionally made wines are clear of suspended solids, with no sediment in the bottle.

However, it’s important to consider the drawbacks of clarification, which will help explain why many natural winemakers avoid it altogether. Natural wines are often unfined and unfiltered.

Clarification can significantly impact the following components, which contribute to a wine’s true character and overall quality:

  • Tannins: Responsible for a wine's structure and aging potential, tannins also act as preservatives.
  • Pigmentation: Clarification can alter a wine’s natural color.
  • Yeasts, enzymes, and other bacteria: These elements contribute significantly to a wine’s flavor and stability.

Supporters of clarification argue that unfined and unfiltered wines, aside from being cloudy, might cause digestive issues for some consumers or exhibit significant flaws.

While there’s no scientific evidence suggesting that unfined and unfiltered wines are unhealthy, clarification is often used to correct deeply flawed wines.


Conclusion

While vegan wines are not the most common on the market, they are becoming easier to find. At Primalwine.com, we take pride in specifically sourcing vegan wines. Generally, natural, biodynamic, and organic wines are also vegan—especially natural wines, which are unfined and unfiltered. After all, the motto of natural winemakers is "nothing added, nothing removed!"

If you were unaware that wine could be non-vegan, we hope this article helps you make more informed choices when purchasing wine. Should you have any questions or need further clarification—no pun intended—feel free to contact us at hello@primalwine.com.