Raise a Glass to Veganuary

Most of us have heard of Veganuary in some way. The annual challenge to promote veganism by encouraging as many people as possible to follow a vegan lifestyle throughout January started in 2014 and has grown rapidly. The UK non-profit organisation behind the Veganuary campaign reports that more than 620

,000 people worldwide took a vegan approach during the 2022 campaign. But what does vegan mean for wine lovers? Wine is from grapes, so surely it must be vegan? If only life were that simple. To celebrate Burns Night I was invited to talk with Rosalind Erskine for The Scotsman's Food & Drink Scran Podcast all about Vegan WinesListen to the podcast here.The Science Bit The process which stops wine being vegan is known as ‘fining’. The procedure is carried out to clarify and stabilise wine; to stop it looking cloudy after bottling, while also removing bitter tastes. Fining removes tiny particles of sediment, which appear during winemaking. Negative and positive-charged particles within the wine react like magnets to repel or attract one another; if they attract, they fall to the bottom, if they repel, they stay suspended. The suspended particles need to bind with particles of the opposite charge, so they also become neutral and drop to the bottom , which is where a fining agent comes in. Traditionally, these agents were derived from animal proteins, including egg whites, gelatine, milk protein casein and Isinglass, the oldest of all, found in fish and essentially a form of collagen. As winemaking techniques modernise, these animal-related products are making way for better, plant-derived options. Wine makers today can choose not to filter wines, to produce natural wines or simply unfiltered. Alternatively, it is now far more widespread to use fining products which are not derived from animals, such as Bentonite, which is a form of clay, or a vegetable pea protein.

How do I know if a wine is vegan? 

As a result of improvements in winemaking techniques, a large proportion of the wines we enjoy are vegan but are not necessarily promoted as such. In a similar way to organic wines – whereby wines are organic but not registered as such due to the cost and lengthy process of certification –wine might be vegan and you just wouldn’t know it. Several companies, including Laithwaites, have a handy search option for anyone looking for vegan wines. In January 2022, this merchant recorded a 20% increase in searches for vegan wines and anticipate a similar rise this year. Majestic Wines has more than 500 wines listed as vegan, while as recently as 2018 had only 39.

Vegan Wine RecommendationsNozeco, Special Edition, Sparkling de-alcoholised wine Mouth-filling Cox's apples with a hint of ginger, refreshing bubbles and a dry finish.  Available from £3.25 in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Co-op.

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand Run by a team of committed winemakers since 1994, the winery takes its name from the surrounding ranges that border it. Wither Hills winery and vineyards are accredited with Sustainable Winegrowers NZ, a set of industry standards that drive improvements to sustainability of the wine industry. Wither Hills' Sauvignon Blanc is zingy, zesty lime characters with white peaches and perfect acidity.  A fabulous Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc from a sustainable producer available from Waitrose for £11.99

Mouton Cadet Rose, France – Slurp £7.95 Who says rosé is just for summer?  However, if you'd like to be transported the Atlantic Ocean on a Summer's day this super fresh and dry with delicious strawberry and watermelon fruit will do the trick.

Ramón Bilbao Crianza, Rioja DOCa, Spain Founded in 1924 in Haro, the wine capital of Rioja, Ramon Bilbao Wine has always produced a vegan Rioja and vegetarian Rueda.  Almost 100 years old, Ramón Bilbao wines are reliable and full of character. This Crianza offers ripe brambles and a hint of liquorice.  Available in Tesco for £9