Vegan Wine

Guide Note

Many wines are clarified, or "fined", before they are bottled. One traditional method of fining involves using animal products such as gelatin or egg white. Vegan wine is made without the use of animal products in the fining process.

Fast Facts

1. Vegan fining product: Bentonite (a type of clay)
2. U.S. wines often clarified with bentonite
3. Vegetarian wine avoids gelatin and blood, but permits egg white and casein (from dairy)
4. Some vegan wine is unfiltered

Wine Fining

While wine is fermenting, sediment such as yeast, protein and other bits can form within the beverage. These can affect the flavor and appearance of the wine. Some winemakers feel these particles contribute to the taste and do not remove them; others feel they detract from the taste and remove them. Fining agents are added to the wine to bond with the unwanted items, making them quicker to settle to the bottom and easier to remove. Each fining agent reacts differently with wine, and some argue each affects the flavor profile differently. Winemakers may choose the animal products gelatin, isinglass, egg white, or casein or the non-animal products bentonite or sparkaloid.