Are Most Red Wines Vegan? The Surprising Truth About Wine Production

December 23, 2025 •

4 min read

Surprisingly, nearly 40% of people are unaware that not all wine is vegan. While the drink is made from fermented grapes, traditional production processes often use animal-derived fining agents, meaning not all red wines are vegan.

Quick Summary

Red wine is often not vegan due to the use of animal products like egg whites during fining, a clarification process. Vegan wines use alternative or no fining methods.

Key Points

Fining Process: Clarification methods often use animal byproducts like egg whites and gelatin, making the wine non-vegan.
Labeling Issues: Wine labels don't always declare non-vegan fining agents, making it difficult for consumers to identify vegan wines.
Vegan Alternatives: Winemakers are increasingly using animal-free fining agents such as bentonite clay or activated charcoal.
Unfined Wines: Wines labeled 'unfined' or 'unfiltered' bypass the fining process entirely, guaranteeing they are vegan.
Checking for Vegan Wine: Look for a certified vegan logo, check for 'unfined' labels, or research the winery directly.
Red vs. White Wine: Red wines traditionally used egg whites for fining, while white wines used agents like casein or isinglass, meaning neither is guaranteed vegan.
Organic Doesn't Mean Vegan: An organic certification relates to grape cultivation practices, not whether animal products were used in the processing.

The Traditional Winemaking Process: Why Clarity Isn't Always Vegan

At its core, wine is a product of fermented grapes, which leads many to assume it's automatically vegan. However, the process doesn't stop at fermentation. After the initial fermentation, the wine is naturally hazy due to suspended particles like proteins, yeast, tannins, and other molecules. While harmless, these particles are considered undesirable by many consumers who prefer a crystal-clear wine. To achieve this clarity and stability, winemakers perform a process called 'fining,' where a fining agent is added to clarify the wine by binding to the cloudy particles and causing them to sink to the bottom. The wine is then filtered to remove both the solid particles and the fining agent itself.

This is where the distinction between vegan and non-vegan wine emerges. The use of animal-derived fining agents, which have been historically and widely used, means the wine is no longer considered vegan. While the fining agent is removed, tiny trace elements can be absorbed by the wine during the process. This is the primary reason why many red wines are not vegan, despite being made from grapes alone.

Common Non-Vegan Fining Agents in Red Wine

To clarify red wine and remove harsh tannins, winemakers traditionally used fining agents. Common non-vegan options include egg whites (albumen), gelatin from animal collagen, isinglass from fish bladders, and sometimes casein from milk.

How to Identify a Vegan Red Wine

Many wineries now produce vegan-friendly red wines to meet consumer demand. Since fining agents aren't always listed on the label, identifying vegan wines can be tricky. A reliable way is to look for a certified vegan logo. Wines labeled "unfined" or "unfiltered" are also vegan-friendly options as they skip the fining process. Researching the winery's website can also provide clarity on their practices.

Vegan-Friendly Fining Alternatives

Winemakers use plant-based or mineral-based alternatives like bentonite clay, activated charcoal, or pea protein for clarification without animal products. Allowing wine to clarify naturally over time is another method that avoids fining agents entirely.

Vegan vs. Traditional Fining: A Comparison Table


Feature	Traditional (Non-Vegan) Fining	Vegan Fining	Unfined/Unfiltered Wine (Vegan)
Agents Used	Animal-derived products like egg whites, gelatin, casein, or isinglass.	Plant-based or mineral-based products like bentonite clay, pea protein, or activated charcoal.	No fining agents are used; wine is left to clarify naturally over time.
Clarity	Very clear; removes most particles for a brilliant appearance.	Clear to very clear, depending on the agent used.	Can be hazy or cloudy due to natural sediment.
Vegan Status	Not vegan, as animal products were used in production.	Vegan, as no animal products were used.	Vegan, as no animal products or fining agents were used.
Effect on Flavor	Minimal to some effect, particularly in softening tannins in red wine.	Very minimal effect, if any.	Can have a richer texture and deeper flavor profile due to retained particles.

The Rise of Vegan and Natural Winemaking

The wine industry is evolving with changing consumer preferences, and the demand for vegan and organic products has spurred many winemakers to adapt their methods. This shift isn't just about catering to vegans; many producers recognize that using fewer additives and more natural, minimalist intervention techniques can lead to higher-quality wine. In fact, many natural, organic, and biodynamic wines are inherently vegan because they avoid using artificial additives and unnecessary fining. Resources like The Wine Society's guide can be helpful for understanding these nuances better. However, it's crucial to remember that "organic" does not automatically mean "vegan," so checking for vegan certification or specific labeling remains the safest option.

Conclusion: Enjoying a Vegan-Friendly Glass

The simple answer to "are most red wines vegan?" is not necessarily. The use of animal products like egg whites in the fining process means a significant portion of the world's red wine is not suitable for vegans. However, the landscape is changing, with more and more winemakers embracing animal-free alternatives like clay or producing unfiltered wines to meet the rising demand for ethical products. For the modern vegan consumer, enjoying a delicious glass of red wine is perfectly possible with a little bit of knowledge and careful label-checking. Looking for certified vegan logos or the "unfined/unfiltered" label is the most straightforward approach, but a quick online search can also provide clarity on a winery's specific production practices. More details on identifying vegan wines can be found on {Link: Vinito https://www.drinkvinito.com/blogs/wine-tips/is-wine-vegan}.

{Link: The Wine Society https://www.thewinesociety.com/discover/explore/expertise/vegetarian-and-vegan-wines-what-they-are-and-what-theyre-not/} provides valuable information on how to distinguish between different types of wine processes, including vegan and vegetarian options.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, no specific type of wine is inherently vegan. It depends entirely on the fining methods chosen by the individual winery during production.

A fining agent is a substance added to wine to help clarify it. It binds with microscopic particles that cause haziness, and both are then filtered out before bottling.

Historically, egg whites (albumen) have been the most common fining agent for red wine, used to soften tannins and provide clarity.

Yes, a wine can be vegetarian but not vegan. This happens if fining agents like milk protein (casein) or egg whites (albumin) are used, which are animal products but not derived from animal slaughter.

Not necessarily. An organic certification focuses on how the grapes are grown, not on the fining process. Some organic wines are vegan, but you must check for explicit vegan certification.

The use of vegan fining agents or an unfined approach can lead to subtle differences in texture and flavor, but these are often minimal and not always discernible to the average drinker. A wine's taste is primarily determined by the grapes and production style.

Look for a certified vegan logo on the bottle, check for labels that say 'unfined' or 'unfiltered', or use an app or website that provides information on vegan wines.