Vegan Wine: Is Wine Really Always Plant-Based?
Intrigued by vegan wine? No wonder, because even though wine is made from grapes, it's not always 100% plant-based. Some production details might surprise you! Here's what you need to know about vegan wine: what it really is, how it's made, and how to pair it with your plant-based dishes.
Vegan Wine: What Are We Really Talking About?
In a few words, a vegan wine is wine without any animal-derived ingredients. Don't worry, grapes are still the base. But where it gets complicated is in the cellar. During classic winemaking, some winemakers use animal products to clarify the wine, meaning to make it clearer.
Why Aren't All Wines Vegan?
To filter the particles naturally present in wine, sometimes these are used:
- gelatin,
- egg albumin,
- casein (protein from milk),
- or isinglass (very common in traditional oenology).
These products are absent from vegan wines, which rely on other solutions.
How Is Vegan Wine Made?
Winemakers opt for non-animal alternatives that are just as effective. For example:
- bentonite, a natural clay,
- activated charcoal,
- or plant proteins derived from peas or potatoes.
The quality of the wine remains intact; only the choice of processes changes.
Vegan, Organic, Natural: Sorting It Out
- An organic wine comes from grapes grown without chemical pesticides, but this doesn't exclude the use of animal products in the cellar.
- A natural wine is generally produced without inputs (or almost) – meaning without adding external products like industrial yeasts or clarifying agents – but it's not necessarily vegan.
- A vegan wine only bans animal-derived ingredients, without guaranteeing that it's organic or natural.
The three approaches can sometimes be combined, but each has its own logic.
Labels to Watch For
To identify a vegan wine, nothing simpler: certain labels or mentions appear directly on the bottle or product sheet. The most common are:
- the V-Label,
- the Vegan Society label,
- or the simple mention "vegan wine."
What Dishes to Pair with a Vegan Wine?
A vegan wine is perfect for accompanying vegan dishes, but not only! Here are some easy pairings:
- A vegan Chenin Blanc with vegan sushi (avocado, cucumber, marinated shiitake).
- A vegan Viognier with a vegetable curry with coconut milk and ginger.
- A vegan Syrah with a vegan burger or grilled eggplants moussaka-style.
- A cool vegan rosé with hummus, mezze, or summer salads.
Simple, effective, and above all delicious!
In a few words, vegan wine is classic wine but without animal-derived products, to broaden the choice and adapt to all dietary preferences.
