What does Vegan mean?
Vegan wine is made without animal products, for example without fining agents such as gelatine, casein, egg white or isinglass.
Also known as: Vegan wine, Vegan-friendly
Vegan wine is wine made entirely without animal products. The grapes themselves are vegan, but animal-based aids can be used during winemaking, which is why not all wine is vegan.
The main issue is fining, when the producer adds an agent that binds particles and haze so they sink to the bottom and the wine becomes clear. Traditional fining agents include gelatine, casein from milk, egg white and isinglass from fish. The agents are then removed, but small traces can remain. If egg or milk products were used and can be detected in the wine, they must be labelled as allergens.
Vegan wines are instead fined with, for example, bentonite, a clay mineral, pea or potato protein or activated charcoal, or they are not fined at all and left to settle clear on their own. Other steps, such as certain lubricants or beeswax, can also play a part.
There is no legal definition of vegan wine in the EU. The label relies on the producer's information or on private certification, such as the V-Label. Vegan tells you about how the wine was made, not about its style or taste.