{{Short description|none}} {{multiple|{{refimprove|date=September 2014}}}} [[File:Red Wine Glass.jpg|thumb|120px|A glass of red wine]]
'''Vegetarian''' or '''vegan wines''' are wines created without the use of animal-based [[Clarification and stabilization of wine#Fining|fining]] agents. Wine production often involves a fining (or "clarifying") process, in which [[fining agents]] are added to wine to remove [[proteins]], [[Yeast (wine)|yeast]], and other suspended [[Organic compounds|organic particles]], and later filtered out. Fining agents can be either [[Animal product|animal]], carbon, or clay-based. Animal-based fining agents include [[gelatin]], [[isinglass]], [[egg white]] (albumen), and [[casein]]. The use of any animal-based agents preclude a wine from being [[Veganism|vegan]], while [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] wines can still use animal products that do not require [[Animal slaughter|slaughter]], such as eggs and milk.
Since the fining agent is filtered back out of the wine, the labelling of these additives is not required or regulated in most places. However, the use of animal-derived additives in wine production is a matter of ethical concern in [[vegetarianism]] and [[veganism]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2015-04-24 |title=Why Wine Isn't Always Vegan |url=https://www.insidescience.org/news/why-wine-isnt-always-vegan |access-date=2019-08-03 |website=Inside Science |language=en}}</ref>
==Non-vegetarian/vegan additives== Examples of common [[Animal product|animal products]] used as fining agents are gelatin, isinglass, casein, and egg albumen.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hermann |first1=Jonathan |title=Vegan Wines 101 |url=https://vegnews.com/2009/1/vegan-wines-101 |website=VegNews |access-date=12 January 2022 |date=29 January 2009}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Dried bull's [[blood]] was also used in some [[Mediterranean]] countries but, as a legacy of [[bovine spongiform encephalopathy]], is not allowed in the [[United States|U.S.]] or the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Europe Wine seized in bull's blood scare |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/377938.stm |access-date=12 January 2022 |agency=BBC News |date=25 June 1999}}</ref>
=== Gelatin === The most common [[animal product]] used for fining is gelatin, due to its potency and effectiveness. Gelatin is made from the boiling of animal parts. Wine specifically responds best to type A gelatin, which is derived from the boiling of pig's skin.<ref name=":2" /> It takes only one ounce of gelatin to clarify 1,000 gallons of wine. Gelatin is used in both white and red wines to fix haze/color and to adjust the flavor or bitterness of the wine.<ref name=":1" />
=== Isinglass === Isinglass is derived from fish bladders. It is primarily used to clear white wines. Like gelatin, isinglass needs to be used sparingly to prevent residual traces in the wine due to its potency.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.awri.com.au/industry_support/winemaking_resources/frequently_asked_questions/fining_agents/|title=Fining Agents|website=The Australian Wine Research Institute|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref>
=== Casein === Casein is the main protein found in cow's milk. It makes up 80% of the proteins and is derived by first skimming milk of its fat, then a process of precipitation to separate remaining particles of the milk and in the end be left with casein proteins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/how-is-casein-extracted-from-milk.htm|title=How is Casein Extracted from Milk? (with pictures)|website=wiseGEEK|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref> Casein is used in both red and white wines to clarify and treat and prevent oxidization.<ref name=":1" />
=== Egg Albumen === Egg [[albumen]] are the whites of a raw chicken egg. It is most commonly used in the clarification of red wines to remove excess tannins.<ref name=":1" />
== Vegan and vegetarian alternative fining agents == As an alternative to animal products, carbon, [[bentonite]], a [[clay]] mineral, and [[polyvinylpolypyrrolidone]] are the most common to be used to [[Clarification and stabilization of wine|clarify]] wine. In Australia, winemakers are required to list the use of potential allergens such as casein and albumin on the label. Still, they are not obliged to list the use of other animal-based fining agents such as gelatin or isinglass.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wine Australia for Australian Wine producers Compliance Guide|url=https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/edebe4e1-4641-4729-8a35-a8c7c37d5692/Wine-Australia-Compliance-Guide-June-2016.pdf|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref> In the EU, regulations only stipulate that wines fined using milk or egg products (both allergens) must be clearly labelled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/labelling-wine|title=Labelling Wine|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref>
Some winemakers believe that fining removes desirable flavours and aromas and instead let the wine's sediments settle naturally, which is a time-consuming process.<ref name=":1" /> Natural wines are a growing trend, which are unfiltered by their very nature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.veganwinebox.co.uk/2018/12/why-isnt-all-wine-vegan/|title=Why isn't all wine vegan? {{!}} What makes wine vegan?|last=Dom|date=2018-12-27|website=Vegan Wine Box|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref>
== Labelling requirements == It is not required{{Where|date=August 2025}} for products to disclose whether they are vegan/vegetarian or not. Even products that choose to label their products with titles{{Explain|reason=titles of what?|date=August 2025}} are not required to show proof that they are free of animal byproducts, animal testing, or any form of animal exploitation.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.beveg.com/current-labeling-laws/|title=BeVeg|last=be-veg|website=BeVeg|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-03}}</ref> In 2006, a proposal was submitted to the Tax and Trade Bureau to mandate the labelling of major allergens such as milk, eggs, and fish included in the production of wine (whether it is filtered out or not).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ttb.gov/faqs/allergen.shtml|title=TTB {{!}} FAQs {{!}} Allergen Labeling|last=ALFD|website=ttb.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-08-03}}</ref>
A study found that exposure to allergens in wine showed no reactions through [[In vitro|in-vitro]] methods, but had positive [[Skin prick test|skin pricks tests]] in patients who consumed/were allergic to wines fined with milk, fish, and eggs.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Vassilopoulou|first1=Emilia|last2=Karathanos|first2=Athanassios|last3=Siragakis|first3=George|last4=Giavi|first4=Stavroula|last5=Sinaniotis|first5=Athanassios|last6=Douladiris|first6=Nikolaos|last7=Fernandez-Rivas|first7=Montserrat|last8=Clausen|first8=Michael|last9=Papadopoulos|first9=Nikolaos G|date=2011-10-17|title=Risk of allergic reactions to wine, in milk, egg and fish-allergic patients|journal=Clinical and Translational Allergy|volume=1|issue=1|pages=10|doi=10.1186/2045-7022-1-10|issn=2045-7022|pmc=3339366|pmid=22409883 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==See also== * [[Glossary of wine terms]] * [[Vegetarianism and beer]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://vegnews.com/food-recipes/vegan-food-guides/wine VegNews Vegan Wine Guide] * [http://barnivore.com/ Barnivore.com – Vegan Alcohol Directory] * [http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=159&catId=2 VegNews Vegan Wines 101]
{{Vegetarianism}} {{Wines}}
[[Category:Vegetarianism and drinks]] [[Category:Vegetarianism]]