We often promote organic wines, knowing that they are made with grapes grown without chemical weed killers and pasticides and fewer chemical additives. We were surprised and a little disgusted to learn that there is more to it than that- a process called fining is common in the industry to clarify, or clear up, wine without filtering, which can take out too much flavour. Traditional fining agents include gelatin (made from the connective tissue of large mammals, such as cows and pigs) and isinglass, which is the polite name for a product made from fish bladders. Blood is sometimes used, as is egg white. Only in New Zealand (which has a big vegan lobby) do you find the occasional "contains fish products". A good bet for vegan-safe wine is Spain's
Albet I Noya Lignum 2003, which is "lightly filtered, but, as the winery likes to boast, completely unclarified. So you can be sure no fish were harmed in its production." read about others from
:: Beppi Crosariol in the Globe and Mail
The Vegan Booze Directory: http://www.veganporn.com/booze.p, Is it Vegan?: http://isitvegan.info/, Ask Carla - Which Beers are Suitable for Vegans?: http://www.askcarla.com/answers.asp?QuestionandanswerID=362, VNV Alcohol by Name: http://www.vnv.org.au/AlcoholByName.htm, Beers Suitable For Vegans: http://www.btinternet.com/~p.g.h/vegan_beer_list.htm, Vegan Wine Guide: http://vegans.frommars.org/wine/, Vegan Beer: http://www.veganconnection.com/veganbeer.htm, have fun getting wasted!
You might enjoy some products from Four Chimneys Organic Wines
( http://www.fourchimneysorganicwines.com)
, as they state: "..we do not use any animal products in our wines, such as bull's blood, gelatin (from beef bones), isinglass (from fish), and egg whites.."
As a homebrewer (beer and mead), I am well aware of clarification methods. In addition to the animal products, bentonite (a clay) and miniature plastic beads (Polyclar) are used. Microfiltration works, too. Or, in my case, wait long enough and it will clear with aging. Gravity and time are your friend.
But, for commercial folks, aging requires storage space and inventory, which isn't free to them.
I first learned about this issue on treehugger a while ago. At the time it mentioned a wine retailer who lists vegan wines, The Organic Wine Company.
I have ordered a couple hundred dollars of wine through them to try out their catalogue. I have found them to sell very satisfactory wines. I really enjoy their New Zealander wines and their own estate wines. But their spanish selection has been very competent as well.