Tag: Wine clarity

While wine is made from grapes, a natural assumption is that it's always vegan, but that is often not the case. The use of animal-derived products during the winemaking process can make many wines unsuitable for vegans. Understanding what type of wine is vegan depends on a clarification process called fining and the alternatives used.

Most people assume wine is naturally vegan since it's made from grapes, but this is a common misconception. This is why the question, "Are all natural wines vegan?" has become so important for those adhering to a plant-based nutrition diet.

Although most people assume wine is simply fermented grape juice, a surprisingly large amount of it is not vegan because of the use of animal products during the clarification process. Substances called fining agents are added to clear the wine of particles and cloudiness. Many of these agents are animal-derived. This makes these wines unsuitable for a vegan diet, though plenty of vegan options exist.