A vintage year for vegan wines

Ahead of World Vegan Day on November 1, we see how winemakers are doing their bit

When it comes to choosing a bottle of wine, how the juice was fine-tuned to attain its appealing colour and whether it’s 100% plantbased (or not) isn’t always a priority. But the good news is, opting for a glass of veganfriendly vino is easier than you think.

With the surge in popularity for plant-based foods and many veggie dishes enhanced by a glass of wine, the vegan logo is very much in vogue - and there’s been a shift in the entire wine production chain, from vineyard to bottle.

And although made from grapes, not all our go-too favourite varieties are vegan. This is because some wines are produced using a process called fining.

“Fining agents, made from animal products such as gelatine or egg whites, are used to help remove tiny molecules of proteins, yeast and other organic particles in young wines, as well as making your wine clearer and taste less bitter,” explains Jones.

With a library of more than 700 vegan wines, you’ll be spoilt for choice at Winebuyers. But with its ripeness and assurance (the producer is certified organic and biodynamic too), we love their fruity Gustavshof Dornfelder 2016, Rheinhessen, Germany (£10.35, Winebuyers.com), with its perfumed scents of morello cherries and raspberries offering bags of aromatic charm.

And thanks to the growing interest, most winemakers are labelling their wines accordingly but it’s always worth checking the back of the bottle - and you don’t have to stray from the supermarket shelves or have to pay a fortune for your vegan food and wine matches.

Encouragingly, as demand for vegan wines continues, Sainsbury’s are seeing an increasing number of producers opting for vegan-friendly methods. “We’re delighted to offer customers a breadth of choice, with approximately 65% of our own-brand range being suitable for vegans,” says the supermarket’s buyer, Tom Holliday.

“Brilliant new options include our Taste the Difference Galliac Blanc 2018, France (£8, Sainsbury’s), a light bodied, crisp and zesty white.”

M&S are in on the trend too, with more than 70% of their range entirely vegan, to help draw drinkers’ attention to including more vegan elements into their overall diet and lifestyle.

Elsewhere, Laithwaite’s stocks more than 150 vegan wines, and their range reflects the budding interest. To make the most of vegetable based risottos, try their very likeable Campanula Pinot Grigio 2018, Dunantul, Hungary (£9.99, Laithwaite’s),with its ripe, tangy, lemony fruits and perfect balance of refreshing acidity.

And to add a bit more va-va-voom to veggie bakes, vegan chilli or tofu au vin even, go for a glass of this nicely poised Tarantella Merlot 2018, Tarantino IGP, Puglia, Italy (£10.99, Laithwaite’s),with its sunkissed plummy spiced fruits wrapped in silky smooth tannins - guaranteed to please vegans, vegetarians, nonvegans and wine lovers alike.