Vegan Wine Guide: The Best Ethical Wines for Every Occasion

Unwind and relax with a glass of vegan wine. Balancing out acidity, tannins, sweetness, alcohol, and fruit, the best bottles don’t have to be expensive to tempt the taste buds.

Given the expansive range of choices, it can be daunting to dive into this world at first, especially if you’re trying to be a conscious consumer and only support plant-based options. Sounds like an easy task, right? Not so fast! Do you really know what’s going into your favorite wines and if they’re actually vegan to begin with?

Is Wine Vegan?

Crushed, pressed, and fermented grapes are aged and bottled to make this time-honored beverage in every color and flavor imaginable. Every factor, from the type of grape to the place it’s grown, has a big impact on the finished flavor. With such a simple ingredient list that starts from pure fruit, it should be easy to assume that all wine is vegan, right? Not quite! There’s a lot that goes into each glass that doesn’t show up on any labels.

Why Is Wine Not Vegan?

Certain brands of wine use processes to refine their vino that makes the resulting liquid not vegan. Those fining agents can include:

• Isinglass: No one wants to say “fish bladders” are involved as they swirl a very expensive glass of sauvignon blanc, but that’s often the case. Particularly in young, white wines, this animal-based collagen is used to remove harsh tannins and impurities.
• Gelatin: The source of many disappointments for those who love gummy candies, this thickener and stabilizer is derived from boiled hooves, bones, and ligaments, often from pigs, cows, and horses.
• Bone char: Just like white sugar, ground bones and hooves can be used to clarify and brighten colors, but don’t need to be mentioned anywhere on the bottle.
• Egg whites (albumin): Particularly dangerous for those with egg allergies, egg whites (also known as albumin) are popular for their high protein content which helps to remove sediment particles.

Fortunately, many of these are becoming antiquated as better materials are being uncovered through food science and good old-fashioned experimentation.

How Can You Find Out If Your Wine Is Vegan?

More brands are becoming aware of the need for transparency through every step of the process. To better accommodate discerning consumers, some have begun to clearly label their bottles as vegan or plant-based right up front. Others have taken to sharing more in-depth information on their websites, so it could take a bit of online sleuthing to get clear answers. When in doubt, a quick email or phone call to ask directly should clear things up.

A great resource that covers many brands of wine worldwide, in addition to beer, cider, liqueurs, and more is Barnivore. As this is a crowd-sourced compendium, it’s still a good idea to double-check with the manufacturers, especially if the last update was made over a year ago, since formulations are subject to change.

Vegan Wine Pairings

With so many unique varietals and flavor profiles to choose from, it’s time to pop open your sense of adventure. So pick your grape, select your style, and sip your way to the perfect pour.

Red Wines

Red wine, the classic wine. It’s rich, bold, and full of flavor. Made from red grapes, it gets its color and tannins from the skins of the grapes. The tannins in red wine make it a great choice for aging, so don’t be afraid to buy a bottle and save it for a special occasion.

• Cabernet Sauvignon – Bold, powerful, and full of flavor, a Cab-Sauv is the king of red wines. Its robust tannins and complex dark fruit flavors and notes of oak and vanilla. So put on your fancy pants and indulge in a glass of this regal wine.
• Malbec – Rich, bold, and full of character, Malbec offers fruity notes that make it the perfect pairing for spicy dishes.
• Merlot – A medium-bodied red wine with soft tannins loved for its fruity flavors.
• Pinot Noir – A light-bodied red wine with delicate flavors and a silky texture, Pinot Noir is a popular choice for those who prefer lighter wine with earthy undertones.
• Syrah – A full-bodied red wine with bold tannins and spicy flavors, Syrah (known as Shiraz in Australia) is a popular wine in many regions of the world. 
• Zinfandel – A medium to full-bodied red wine with bold fruit flavors and a spicy finish, Zinfandel is a popular wine in California.

Vegan Red Wine Pairings: This wine pairs well with hearty meals like plant-based pasta dishes, vegan meats, and roasted vegetables.

White Wines

When life gives you lemons, make lemony white wine! Made from green grapes, white wine is known for its zesty, citrusy taste. It’s crisp, light, and refreshing, making it the perfect wine to enjoy on a hot summer day.

• Pinot Noir – Smooth, silky, and oh-so-elegant, Pinot Noir has a light body and fruity flavor making it the perfect choice for a fancy dinner party or a romantic evening in.
• Sauvignon Blanc – This zesty and refreshing wine is the ultimate thirst-quencher. Its citrusy notes and crisp finish make it the perfect choice for a summer day spent lounging by the pool.
• Chardonnay – Buttery, oaky, and indulgent, Chardonnay is the ultimate comfort wine.

Vegan White Wine Pairings: Vegan white wine pairs well with vegan seafood, mushroom risotto, vegan fettuccini Alfredo, colorful salads, and grilled vegetables. It’s a great choice for your next barbecue.

Rosé Wines

Rosé all day, baby! This wine is made by letting the grape skins sit with the juice for just a short time, giving it a light and fruity taste. A little bit sweet, a little bit sassy, and a whole lot of fun, Rosé is the perfect wine for any sunny occasion. Whether you’re brunching with friends or picnicking in the park, its light and fruity flavor will keep you sipping all summer long.

Vegan Rosé Pairings: It pairs well with light bites like salads, fresh fruit, vegan cheese, hummus boards, and crackers.

Sparkling Wine (Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, etc.)

Pop the bubbly, it’s time to celebrate! Sparkling wine is perfect for any festive occasion, or just when you feel like treating yourself to something special. It’s light, refreshing, and of course, has those delightful bubbles.

Vegan Sparkling Wine Pairings: This wine pairs well with anything salty or fried, like our air fryer potato skin chips or popcorn. It’s also a great choice to pair with brunch dishes like tofu scramble or eggless quiche.

Best Vegan Wines

There are hundreds of thousands of vegan-friendly wine options on the market, and like all other things, the “best” option is a matter of taste! For fool-proof picks that are guaranteed to be 100% plant-based, you can’t go wrong with any of these brands.

Vegan Wine Brands

• Avaline
• Bellissima
• Besa
• Bluenose Wines
• Carmel Road
• Charles Shaw
• China Bend
• Domaine Carneros
• Fresh Vine Wines
• Frey Vineyards
• Gerard Bertrand
• Girasole Vineyards
• Harney Lane Winery
• Hip Chicks Do Wine
• Kind of Wild
• La Cantina Pizzolato
• Las Jaras Wines
• Layer Cake
• Michael David Winery
• Metro Wines
• Mountain Cove Vineyards
• Obvious Wines
• Our Daily Wines
• Proudly Vegan
• Red Truck Wines
• Santa Margherita
• Scout & Cellar
• Sea Change Wine
• Snoqualmie
• Souleil
• Stellar Winery
• The Vegan Vine
• Whitecliff Winery
• Wonderful Wine Co.

Sparkling Wine, Prosecco, and Champagne Brands That Are Vegan

• Avaline
• Bellissima
• Domaine Carneros
• Fresh Vine Wines
• Frey Vineyards
• La Cantina Pizzolato
• Las Jaras Wines
• Metro Wines
• Obvious Wines
• Proudly Vegan
• Red Truck Wines
• Santa Margherita
• Scout & Cellar
• Sea Change Wine
• Souleil

Vegan Wine Delivery

For the connoisseur or wine newbie, a great way to experience a wide variety of different bottles is to sign up for a wine club. Experienced sommeliers will curate boxes based on your preferences and give you something new to try monthly, quarterly, or biannually, depending on your subscription. Specifically vegan wine clubs or those with solely vegan shipments make the process easy.

• Vegan Wines: Specializing in solely cruelty-free, ethically produced wines, this online club was the first of its kind in the US. You can customize each shipment that’s sent out seasonally to make sure every bottle is one you’ll love.
• Winc: Order a bundle or a single bottle; you have options that include a completely vegan section to make sure every pick is a hit. Options change frequently so keep checking to see the latest wines on offer.
• Naked Wines: Clear ratings and reviews help guide your vegan wine choices, along with a helpful quiz that will hone in on your best bets. Sign up for a regular shipment or order as needed.
• Organic Wine Exchange: Easily search by only vegan options but don’t expect that to narrow down the choices too much; there are still over 200 bottles that fit the bill! Enjoy bundle discounts when you sign up for their vegan wine club.

Vegan Recipes Using Wine

If you have a leftover wine or just crave the rich flavor it imparts to both cooking and baking, there are plenty of options for infusing your favorite vino into everyday dishes. From sweet to savory, a little splash goes a long way to enhance the overall flavors.

• Complementing the intense, robust flavor of red wine, candy cap mushrooms add an unmistakably sweet flavor to tender little pasta pearls in this delicious side dish of Red Wine Acini de Pepe.
• Vegan Portobello Beef(less) Stew swaps mushrooms for meat to create a deeply satisfying, hearty blend of potatoes and vegetables, all simmered together in an aromatic, herbed red wine broth.
• Creamy, quick, and surprisingly healthy, this Easy Mushroom Risotto is an elegant but unfussy dinner that uses white wine to amplify the inherent umami notes in baby bella mushrooms.
• Fruit poached in wine is a classic dessert that’s fresh, light, and still luxurious. Wine-Poached Pears with Glazed Pecans add crunchy contrast with lightly sweetened, toasted nuts on top.

Raise a Glass to Vegan Wines—L’Chaim!

The Hebrew word L’Chaim literally means: “To life!” What better way to cheers to to life than by choosing wines that are crafted consciously, with respect to all life?

Vegan wines are a delicious and ethical choice for wine lovers who want to enjoy their favorite beverage while also supporting a cruelty-free lifestyle. With a growing number of wineries and vineyards offering vegan options, there has never been a better time to explore the world of vegan wines.

From fruity rosés to bold reds, there is a vegan wine out there to suit every taste preference and occasion. So whether you’re sipping on a glass of vegan wine at a dinner party or enjoying a bottle with friends on a warm summer evening, you can feel good knowing that you’re supporting a sustainable and compassionate industry.

Cheers to vegan wines and all the amazing flavors they have to offer!