Vegan wine: what is it, how is it produced, and why is it winning over more and more consumers?

What are vegan wines?

What exactly does "vegan wine" mean? At first glance it may seem strange, since one hardly associates wine with ingredients of animal origin. Yet, in some cases, this is indeed the case! A vegan wine is a product that, during all stages of its production, makes no use of ingredients or processes derived from animals. Although wine comes exclusively from the fermentation of grapes, some traditional practices involve the use of animal substances to clarify and stabilize the product, such as casein, albumin, and gelatin. Vegan wines, on the other hand, avoid the use of these additives, thus offering a product completely free of animal derivatives.

What natural additives can be used in vegan wines?

For the production of vegan wines, it is essential to use only non-animal additives and adjuvants in the clarification and stabilization processes. As highlighted by Red Prawn, common alternatives include both plant and mineral solutions, such as bentonite, a highly effective mineral clay for clarification, silica, plant-derived activated carbon, and proteins derived from peas and potatoes. These ingredients make it possible to improve the clarity and stability of wine, completely eliminating the use of animal-derived products.

Vegan wines: a market that can take off

The vegan wine market is experiencing tremendous growth, driven by growing consumer awareness of more sustainable and ethical food choices. According to forecasts, by 2028 the global veganism market will reach an impressive $61.3 billion (source: ilsole24ore). This trend is not only a global phenomenon, but is also having a significant impact in Italy, where about 9.5 percent of the population adopts a vegetarian or vegan diet. This change is fueling the growth of a rapidly evolving industry committed to meeting new consumer needs. Wine producers, in particular, are adapting their processes to make products compatible with vegan principles, replacing animal adjuvants with plant and mineral alternatives. This expanding sector represents not only a tremendous market opportunity, but also a step toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly production.

How to recognize a vegan wine?

To recognize a vegan wine, it is important to check for specific certifications on the label. Currently, there is no ministerial regulation dedicated to the certification of vegan i wines; consequently, wineries rely on private and voluntary certifying bodies. Among the most well-known national and European labels are VeganOK, The Vegan Society, ICEA (Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification), Bioagricert, Vegan Quality, and CCPB. These symbols guarantee that the wine has been produced without the use of ingredients or adjuvants of animal origin at every stage of the production process, from growing the grapes to final packaging. A concrete example is the certification issued by CCPB, which attests to the absence of adjuvants, additives, ingredients and contamination of animal origin through Technical Product Document No. 15.

In the absence of specific certifications, it is advisable to visit the producer's website or contact them directly to obtain detailed information on the practices adopted during wine production. Additional support for consumers is offered by online applications and databases, such as Barnivore, which facilitate the identification of vegan alcoholic beverages by providing up-to-date lists of products that comply with these requirements.

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