We’re really proud to have over 20 wines in our range that are Vegan; from the ever-popular Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to the limited release Greg Single Vineyard Chardonnay. We have a page on our website dedicated to showcasing the wines in our range that carry the green “V” and our Vegan Wines page is increasingly one of the most visited on our site. The segment is clearly growing in popularity with customers - here are some of the burning questions that we hear a lot… and their answers!
“What makes a wine non-vegan?”
It can be surprising to hear that not all wines are vegan. This is because winemaking practices can involve using animal-derived products to clarify and fine at various stages of the winemaking process. Products can include, gelatine, casein (milk protein) or even egg whites.
“How is a vegan wine made?”
Vegan wines are made without the use of any animal-based products. Winemakers would instead use bentonite (clay) or plant-based protein products during the fining process, to remove impurities and clarify the liquid. It’s important to know that these products do not remain in the wine. Once used, they settle out to the bottom of the vessel and are then excluded. At Whitehaven, our winemakers often do not see the need to fine in the first place.
“How do I spot a vegan wine?”
Many wines that are labelled as ‘unfiltered’ or ‘unclarified’ will be vegan friendly, as they will not have undergone the process that most frequently involves animal products. But this can be a bit of a guessing game. To be completely confident that the wine you’re purchasing is vegan, make sure the label includes the Vegan trademark stamp.
“Great! Where can I buy vegan wines?”
Right here. To keep things simple, we showcase the full range of vegan-friendly wines as their own collection, on the Vegan Wines page of our website.
