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Wait – isn’t wine made from grapes anyway? So why worry which wines are vegetarian or even vegan? Find out why not all wines are vegan-friendly and discover a handful of great wines across a range of styles to enjoy this Veganuary.
Ensuring your wine is vegan
Wine is, of course, nearly always made from grapes, vegan in themselves. However, just towards the end of the winemaking process, a wine has to be fined (cleared of sediment) and stabilised. A number of ingredients are used in these processes.
One of these is isinglass, a product derived from fish, and mostly used in higher volume white wines. Obviously you will want to avoid these wines, whether you are vegan or vegetarian. Another is gelatin, an animal-based protein that is said to soften tannins and is more often used in red wine.
Egg whites are used in more expensive red wines and are said to lend a silky texture. Vegetarians get a green light for this one, but it’s a red light for vegans.
Bentonite – a type of clay – is a permitted fining agent for vegan wines, as is the use of sterile filters.
Finally, some of the finest wines are not filtered at all, but allowed to settle very slowly, then carefully separated from any sediment that has dropped to the bottom of the container. These wines, of course, will be suitable for all.
To ensure your chosen wine is vegan, head to our Vegan wines page.
So let’s leave the theory and get stuck into some top-tip wines:
Fizz
Britpop Brut, English Quality Sparkling Wine
If you need some extra sparkle in January, try this excellent quality English fizz from Blur bassist, Alex James. Made just like a Champagne, it has a smooth, creamy mousse, ripe stone fruits, citrus and a lovely biscuity length. Bound to bring a smile.
H! Hola Organic Cava Brut, Spain
Cava is made the same way as Champagne, with the secondary fermentation taking place in bottle. An expensive technique. Yet, Cava wines are very reasonably priced. Try the Hola! range. The Brut has fresh apple, pear and floral notes, with an attractive creamy mousse.
Rosé
Boschendal The Pavillion Rosé 2024, Western Cape WO, South Africa
Light in hue, very crisp and elegant with bright berry fruit, this is a top choice from South Africa’s outstanding Boschendal estate. Terrific value too. Refreshing to sip on its own, it’ll be just the wine to serve with a warm salad of roasted cauliflower, lemony bulgur wheat, pistachios and pomegranate.
Roc Clairet 2021, Bordeaux AOC
This is rosé with a difference – a clairet, the original deeply coloured rosé from Bordeaux. It’s full of lush, juicy red fruit too. A pink, perhaps, for red wine drinkers. Lots of cherry, berry flavours. Chill down gently and enjoy on its own or try with a green Thai curry. It can take the spice!
White wines
Le Masque Chenin Blanc 2023
From winemaker Mark Hoddy in the south of France, a ripe, fruity and super-fresh white made from a grape that doesn’t receive its fair share of acclaim. Characterful Chenin Blanc with zippy, ripe, lemon fruit. Try it with a gently spiced chickpea, cashew and coconut rice.
Hunter’s Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand
Hunter’s is one of the top estates of Marlborough, New Zealand, a family we have worked with since the 1980s. Their Sauvignon is better than ever – vibrant notes of passion fruit, grapefruit and lime. A great fruity white we’d recommend with garam marsala carrots, served with coconut-infused red lentils.
Queen Bee Viognier 2024, Western Cape, South Africa
A South African white with just the right balance of exotic, ripe tropical fruit and juicy freshness. Queen Bee is elegant and characterful and always good value. The producer is also strong on sustainability and supporting the community. Get creative and enjoy the wine with a super-simple recipe of golden spaghetti with garlic, lemon and silken tofu.
Red wines
Collezione di Paolo 2023, Chianti DOC, Italy
This is our top-selling Chianti every year. Why? Because Paolo’s wines always represent terrific quality and great value. And he pours a lot of passion into every wine. Intense, dark cherry fruit, with hints of chocolate. A must with the all-in-one chickpea puttanesca pasta.
Le Secret de Pinot Noir 2023, Vin de France
A luscious, ripe Pinot Noir from southern France, crafted by Mark Hoddy. It may only be a Vin de France, but the quality is much higher. Intense raspberry and blackberry fruit, with a touch of spice from oak-ageing. A great red to partner vegan crepes stuffed with mushroom, pumpkin and sage, with a creamy vegan bechamel sauce.
Antakari Carmenère Reserva 2023, Valle de Elqui, Chile
With the wealth of wines on offer today, Chile often gets forgotten. But it’s a great source of wines with ripe, elegant fruit, quality and value. Enjoy here all the ripe blackberry, cherry and plum notes of this velvety Carmenère Reserva. Treat yourself to a warming bowl of pearl barley, mushroom and stout stew. Lots of rich umami flavours to go with the dark fruit of the Carmenère.
And finally, ...
If you’re going alcohol-free as well as vegan this January, try:
!H! Barcelona Hola, Catalunya
Alcohol-free fizz from the makers of this great Cava. Bright apple fruit freshness, carried on a wave of creamy mousse.
About the author
Nikki Jacoby
Nikki has spent all her career in wine, selling it first by the spoken word, then as a writer in the publishing world, before returning to work within the Laithwaites’ copy team for most of the last 30 years. Many years ago, she passed both halves of the diploma, but the greatest education in wine has been a full immersion in it, visiting the places and talking to its many passionate producers. As a topic, it will never cease to fascinate.
