Vegetarian Wine

Vegetarian wines are wines that do not use animal-derived products in the winemaking process. Unlike vegan wines, which avoid all animal-based ingredients, vegetarian wines specifically exclude animal-derived fining agents, such as egg whites, gelatin, and isinglass (fish bladder extract), but may still use other animal by-products like milk casein.

In vegetarian wine production, plant-based or mineral alternatives are used for fining, such as bentonite clay, activated charcoal, or plant proteins like pea protein. This allows the wine to be clarified and refined without the use of animal-based substances.

Although vegetarian wines still may contain small amounts of sulfites or other additives, they are considered more plant-based in their production compared to conventional wines that may use animal products for clarification. Vegetarian wines cater to those who avoid animal products but are okay with certain dairy-derived ingredients like casein in the winemaking process.