Vegan Wines

What Is Vegan Wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without any animal-derived products at any stage of production. The clarification step is where most conventional wines fall short.
 
After fermentation, wine contains microscopic particles of grape solids, yeast cells, and proteins that make it cloudy. Traditional winemakers remove these using fining agents that bond with the particles and cause them to sink to the bottom of the tank. The problem is where those agents come from.
 
Common non-vegan fining agents include isinglass, which is made from dried fish swim bladder membranes. Casein is a protein from cow's milk. Egg whites, also called albumin, are a classic technique still used in premium Bordeaux-style reds. Gelatin comes from animal bones and connective tissue.
 
Vegan winemakers replace these with plant-based or mineral alternatives. Bentonite clay is the most common. Pea protein works well for whites. Some producers simply skip fining altogether and allow the wine to self-clarify over time. These wines are called unfined or unfiltered, and they often show more texture and complexity as a result.
 
The end result tastes identical to conventionally made wine. You will not notice a difference in the glass.

Is All Wine Vegan? How to Tell

No, not all wine is vegan, and the label usually will not tell you either way. Australia does not require winemakers to disclose fining agents because they are processing aids rather than final ingredients. This makes it genuinely difficult to identify vegan wine without doing some research.
 
Here is how to tell:
 
Look for the word vegan or unfined on the label. Some producers now use this as a clear selling point, especially those catering to health-conscious buyers.
 
Check Barnivore.com. It is the world's largest crowdsourced database of vegan alcohol, with thousands of Australian and international wines listed by brand.
 
Look for organic or biodynamic certification. These producers often, though not always, avoid animal fining agents as part of their broader philosophy.
 
Or simply shop our curated vegan wine range. We have done the verification so you do not have to.

Vegan Red Wine

Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Merlot are all widely available in vegan-certified versions. Traditional premium reds, particularly those made in a Bordeaux style, are historically the most likely to use egg-white fining to soften tannins. Most Australian producers have moved away from this technique, but it is worth checking.
 
Our vegan red wine selection runs from approachable everyday drinking wines from around $15 through to cellar-worthy bottles from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Margaret River.

Vegan White and Sparkling Wine

White wines are most commonly fined with isinglass or casein, but bentonite has become standard practice across much of the Australian wine industry. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay are all available in great vegan versions.
 
For celebrations, our vegan sparkling wine range covers Prosecco, sparkling Shiraz, and traditional method sparkling from Tasmania and Victoria. All verified before they go on the shelf.

Why Buy Vegan Wine from Just Wines?

We stock over 6,000 wines from more than 400 Australian and international producers. Our vegan range is curated by our buying team and verified before listing, so you are not guessing.
 
Same-day dispatch from Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Temperature-controlled packaging to protect your wine in transit. And a satisfaction guarantee on every order. If something is not right, we will fix it.

FAQ about Vegan Wines

1. Is wine vegan?

Most wine is not automatically vegan. Traditional winemaking uses animal-derived fining agents including isinglass from fish, egg whites, casein from milk, and gelatin from animal bones to clarify wine before bottling. Vegan wines use plant-based or mineral alternatives such as bentonite clay, or skip fining entirely. The grapes themselves are always vegan. It is the production process that varies.

2. What makes a wine vegan?

A wine is vegan when no animal-derived products are used at any stage of production. In winemaking terms this means the producer uses bentonite clay, pea protein, or another non-animal fining agent, or leaves the wine unfined and unfiltered to clarify naturally. No egg whites, no fish bladder, no gelatin, no milk protein.

3. Are Australian wines vegan?

Many Australian wines are vegan or vegan-friendly, but this varies widely by producer and wine style. Australia does not require fining agents to be declared on labels, so the easiest ways to confirm are to check Barnivore.com, look for certified organic or biodynamic producers, or shop our pre-verified vegan wine range.

4. Is vegan wine healthier?

Fining agents are removed during filtration along with the particles they have bonded to, so in practice there is negligible nutritional difference between vegan and conventional wine. The main reason to choose vegan wine is ethical rather than health-related. That said, unfined and unfiltered wines, which are often vegan, tend to be closer to their natural state with fewer additives overall.

5.  What vegan wine brands are available in Australia?

Australia has a growing number of vegan-certified producers. Yalumba's Y Series is one of the most widely available vegan-certified ranges. Cullen Wines in Margaret River is certified biodynamic and vegan. Innocent Bystander in the Yarra Valley is vegan-friendly and easy to find. Many certified organic wineries in the Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, and Barossa Valley also produce vegan wines. Our range is updated regularly as new verified labels are added.