What is vegan wine? Does it taste good? Will I like it?
Given that wine is the product of grapes and yeast, you may think all wines would be appropriate for vegans but that isn’t always the case.
Consumer interest in vegan wines is growing with varietals showing up at liquor stores around the country; but do you know what makes the vino vegan and what doesn’t?
Animal products are used during the winemaking process as fining agents, such as egg white, gelatin, isinglass and milk protein; which are used to help filter and clarify the young wine by removing materials that make it hazy or affect the aroma.
These agents bind to the unwanted materials, making them large enough to be filtered out.
Vegan wines use non-animal-derived fining agents like limestone, carbon, silica gel and a variety of clays to produce a tasty, completely vegan tipple.
The taste and flavour profiles of vegan and non-vegan wines are as varied as your usual drop – try Round Theory’s range and you won’t be disappointed.
This Kiwi winemaker has a simple mission – to make great wines that have a positive impact on the planet, with a motto of ‘Wines for Our World’.
From Sauvignon Blanc to Rosé, Pinot Gris and a white Field Blend, there is a glass here to tempt all palates, sourced and grown from sustainably accredited vineyards around New Zealand. At AGFG, we taste-tested the Hawke’s Bay Rosé with hints of strawberries and blackberries giving it a soft and luscious texture, leading to a clean and dry finish.
An ideal drop for Spring and Summer alfresco as the barbeque sizzles in the background, you wouldn’t know this wine was any different from your usual favourite rosé. We also loved the bottle shape and labels of these wines with the stylised tiger, flowers and fruit.
Wine lovers looking for tropical notes of guava and passionfruit may opt for the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which delivers crisp fresh flavours perfect for seafood feasts as it evens out the saltiness of the food with the acidity of the wine.
Notes of apple and pear shine through Round Theory’s Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris giving it a clean and lively palate; pair this drop with dishes such as simple oven-roasted chicken, or seared and grilled fish – perhaps just enjoy it solo as you wind down after a hard day at work.
