FOOD & NUTRITION
Is all Wine Vegan-Friendly?
magnet attracting and clinging to haze-inducing proteins and organic materials making the molecules larger and therefore more difficult to pass through a filter. The choice of fining agent lies in the hands of the winemaker and can be either a plant or animal product. The most common animal fining agents are egg albumin (egg whites), casein (milk protein), gelatin (bone marrow), isinglass (fish bladders), and chitosan (crustacean shells). Some wineries make it easy with a ‘Vegan Friendly’ symbol on the back label. Vegans can breathe easy when they see it because they know BY LAURIE MACKAY – Wine Columnist and sommelier CBC Radio for certain that the wine has been made using animal-free One in Calgary, AB. alternatives such as carbon, bentonite and poly-vinyl-polySOULVINES SOULVINES pyrrolidone (PVPP). Another option is to look for a wine that is unfiltered and unfined. In this case, time is the fining agent. By giving the wine more ave you ever noticed “May contain milk, eggs or fish” time to age, it self-clarifies, and all the unwanted particles gently on the back label of a wine bottle? Animal products settle to the bottom. If the wine is unfiltered, it will have a slightly and wine, what the heck? If you cloudy appearance and some sediment in are not in the wine business, this probably the bottle. Many wine experts feel that comes as a big surprise. It did to me cloudy wine has more flavour. This slight VEGAN-FRIENDLY WINES when I first learned about it. After all, difference in appearance may take a little To get you started here is my short list wine is made from grapes. Why would it getting used to but is a small price to pay of vegan-friendly wines: contain any milk, eggs or fish? The truth for peace of mind. One of the easiest ways • Sperling Vineyards and Summerhill is, it could. So, if a vegan lifestyle is to find out if your favourite wine is vegan is Winery – British Columbia important to you or you have allergies, this to check out www.barnivore.com, a great • Benjamin Bridge – Nova Scotia information is good to know. resource for vegan-friendly beer, spirits and • Dog Point Vineyards– New Zealand Near the end of the winemaking cider, too. The staff at your local wine • Bodega Matsu – Spain process, wine is cloudy and hazy. It shop can also be an untapped source of • Schug Estate Winery– California is at this point when the fining knowledge. Vegan wine is becoming more • Yalumba – Australia process happens to make the wine bright popular, so they might even have some and clear. Fining agents act like a hidden gems to share!
You may be surprised to learn, the answer is no
84 Inspiration Issue 2021
IMPACT Magazine
ZOE SPAWTON
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