Diya Pathak 
When it comes to deciding whether wine is vegan, there are a few factors to consider. If you follow a vegan diet, you know that animal-derived ingredients, such as meat, fish and eggs, are not part of your diet. However, the process of producing wine, including the fining of the wine, can contain non-vegan ingredients, such as yeast and alcohol.
Fining agents
Fining agents in wine are used to increase the clarity of the wine. These are additives added to the wine in a process that involves clarification and filtration.
There are many types of fining agents available. They include proteins from grapes, yeasts, or milk. Some are more common than others. The purpose of fining is to remove undesirable elements from the wine.
Several studies have investigated the effects of fining on red wines. A commercial fining agent called patatin significantly decreased astringency. Likewise, plant proteins such as ovalbumin have also shown positive results.
In contrast, some studies evaluated the possibility of residual fining agents in treated wines. Although some traces were detected, this was not enough to support a conclusion.
Another example is gluten, which is a complex mixture of proteins made from wheat kernel storage proteins. It has been used as a fining agent since the 3rd millennium.
Non-vegan ingredients introduced to wine during fining
During the winemaking process, some non-vegan ingredients are introduced into the wine. This is done to enhance the clarity of the final product. While many wines are still produced using animal products, winemakers are starting to adopt a more natural approach. Many companies label their wines as vegan, organic, or biodynamic. However, winemakers are also known to use animal-derived fining agents. These can include carmine, pepsin, and fish bladders.
Fining is an accelerated way to remove unwanted substances. A slurry is added to the wine and then filtered out. Fining agents can be used to remove cloud-making molecules, such as phenolics, that can cause browning or bitterness. Some wines use a combination of fining agents to achieve a clearer wine.
Animal-derived fining agents are generally not appropriate for vegetarians and vegans. Although some winemakers are beginning to use vegan alternatives, this does not mean that the final product is safe.
Natural wines are pure and clear.
Natural wine is an emerging trend in the wine industry. It’s like the craft beer craze that lasted from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The movement, which was lauded for its purest expression of a grape, resists using common winemaking methods such as enzymes, sulfites, or even additives.
Typically, a natural wine is made from hand-harvested and de-stemmed grapes that are fermented and bottled without artificial additives. However, there are some exceptions. For example, some producers will add tiny amounts of sulfites to keep the wine from spoiling. Sulfites are known to have a positive effect on the flavor of a drink.
But it’s not just sulfites that make natural wines unique. Other additives include organic grapes, native yeasts, and natural or biodynamic farming practices.
Barnivore website lists 3,606 bottles of vegan-friendly wines
If you’re a boozehound on the hunt for a fine drop, the best way to go about it isn’t the booze. There’s nothing wrong with having a few cocktails in the evening, but if it’s a case of binge drinking you’re after, your pheromones will thank you for it. Thankfully, there are plenty of bars and taverns in and around town to choose from, if you know where to look. The trick is to find one with a well-stocked liquor department. Alternatively, try your luck at a winery or two. Most of them have a tasting room where you can sample wines by the glass, or the bottle depending on your preference.
Statistics measuring the percentage of vegan and non-vegan wineries in the world
As more and more consumers choose vegan products, the demand for vegan wine is growing. This trend is particularly evident in the U.S., where Mintel reports a 257% increase in plant-based drink launches. However, the term “vegan” isn’t regulated by the government, and so consumers have no way to verify whether a product is truly vegan.
The best way to determine whether a wine is vegan is to buy it from a certified vegan winery. These independent third-party certification companies are helping to build consumer confidence. They have awarded many award-winning vegan wines with a superior taste.
Wine is made from fermented grape juice. While the majority of wine is vegan, the fining process can sometimes add tiny amounts of substances that aren’t.