Vegan or Organic Wine
What are their characteristics?
Not all wines are vegan, and not all wines are organic. We open the doors to the secrets of wineries to define what a vegan wine is and how it differs from an organic wine.
Wine is made from grapes, and many people think it should naturally be vegan because it is 100% plant-based. However, some also believe that organic wine means the grapes are untreated. Both statements are incorrect.
Vegan Wine
Grape juice, wood, cellar, or bottles are naturally vegan; no animal products are used. The wine's fining process is where the distinction lies. This is a process where the wine is cleared of all impurities and clarified before bottling.
These fining agents can include: edible gelatin (usually made from animal cartilage), animal albumin (made from egg albumin or powdered dehydrated blood albumin), fish glue, or casein and potassium caseinate (derived from milk).
These products do not remain in the wine, but for a food product to be considered vegan, no animal-derived substances may be used in its production. To solve this problem, so-called vegan wines are developed.
In the fining of vegan wines, ingredients such as peas, potatoes, or wheat are used. For some time now, carrageenan, a substance derived from algae, has also been used. The most common agent in vegan wines is bentonite, which is of mineral origin, as it is a clay powder.
Vegan wine, however, only indicates that no animal products were used in its production, but it does not guarantee that it is 100% natural, as artificial substances for fertilization or preservation may be used.
Organic Wine
This wine is characterized by a winemaking process that implements sustainable measures at every stage, from grape cultivation to the cellar. In other words: it ensures the highest level of respect for animals and the environment.
What distinguishes vegan wines is their fining process. In organic wines, animal-derived substances may be used for fining, provided the entire process is completely natural and sustainable.
For a wine to be called organic, the fields must be fertilized with natural and organic fertilizers, and pomace or natural vines, which are by-products of winemaking, may also be used. No mineral or nitrogen fertilizers are used, and harvest residues must not be burned, as this would destroy the microbial flora of the soil.
Furthermore, organic wine must be preserved naturally. No antiseptics or antioxidants like sulfites may be used, which are also harmful to those with sulfite allergies. However, it should be noted that organic wines can also contain sulfites, but these are of natural origin.
Vegan or Organic. How can we recognize this in wine?
The so-called V-Label was launched by the European Vegetarian Union and is an internationally recognized and protected trademark for identifying vegetarian and vegan products and services. The seal provides clarity with consistent criteria and regular controls, and is used across Europe. For a winery to apply the label to its bottles, it must undergo an application process and acquire a license for its wines.
And this, unfortunately, is a hurdle for South African wineries. The majority of producers in South Africa produce wines sustainably and organically, with some even producing vegan wines. However, only a few make the leap to Europe and have their wines certified with the V-Label.
Much more common for South African wines is the «Integrity & Sustainability» label, which guarantees the correctness of the vintage, variety, origin, and sustainable and environmentally friendly production and bottling in South Africa. You can find out more about this in our Tip #55.
Vegan Wine from South Africa
We have scrutinized our South African wineries in terms of production and now present vegan wines. But beware, as already mentioned, you will not find any labeling on many of the wine bottles.
Boschkloof: The Borman family has crafted every bottle of Boschkloof with great care and attention to detail.
All white wines from Buitenverwachting are vegan and produced without animal products. Any cross-contamination during red wine production is avoided through excellent hygiene measures in the cellar.
Creation Wines from Hermanus produces vegan white wines. These include a balanced Sauvignon Blanc, a fruity and fragrant Viognier, a Bordeaux-style Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, and a full-bodied Chardonnay.
The Diemersdal winery is renowned for its award-winning red and white wines from the Durbanville Wine Valley, combining the old and new worlds of winemaking.
Glen Carlou: They produce 3 distinctive vegan wine ranges: Prestige is the ultra-premium range, reflecting Glen Carlou's unique conditions and meticulous care; Classic are artisanally crafted, award-winning wines that reflect their distinctive terroir; and Tortoise Hill was created to bring quality and enjoyment to modern life.
Graham Beck, one of South Africa's leading environmentally friendly wine producers, is committed to ethical and sustainable farming practices and the promotion of local communities.
Since 2012, all Haute Cabrière vintages are suitable for vegans.
The wine range from Klein Constantia includes a high-quality Estate range, a second label KC range, and the flagship, the revival of the famous Constantia sweet wine Vin de Constance. There are also a limited number of Sauvignon Blanc, Méthode Cap Classique Brut, Riesling, Chardonnay, and an Estate Red Blend.
Leopard’s Leap has vegan wines and is also a proud sponsor of the Cape Leopard Trust, which strives to protect the magnificent Cape Leopard.
Longridge: In the vineyard, no herbicides, pesticides, or chemical sprays are used, and Nguni cattle provide natural fertilizer. In the cellar, the wine is handcrafted without artificial yeast, fining agents, or stabilizers, and it is unfiltered.
The wine range from Rainbow’s End is vegan and consists mainly of Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Franc (flagship), Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, a Bordeaux blend, and Rosé.
Reyneke: It is now farmed organically, and its wines are produced according to biodynamic principles. All wines except the Cornerstone are suitable for vegans.
Sadie Family: The Chenin Blanc-based Palladius and the Columella label established a new category of distinctive white wine blends from the Cape. These two original Sadie wines are now joined by the Old Vineyard Series – fascinating wines produced in necessarily small quantities. They are all made with minimal intervention in the cellar and transparently express their origin.
Only white wines from Saxenburg are vegan, and the bottles will be labeled as suitable for vegans from July 2017.
Warwick: No animal products are used for any of their wines except the Sauvignon Blanc.
Organic/ Biodynamic Wines from South Africa
More and more winemakers are opting for organic and biodynamic farming, as in the case of Reyneke, Spier, Waterkloof, and our latest addition: Longridge. All these wines can be found in our online shop.
