BC Vegan Wines

Whether you’re vegan or vegetarian, like to purchase locally produced wines, or are just interested in trying out new vintages, here is a handy directory of wines produced in British Columbia that are vegan.

Note: The month and year the producer’s vegan status was confirmed follows the name in parenthesis.

100% Vegan

Blasted Church Vineyards (Sept. 2008)

Blossom Winery (Jan. 2009)

Church and State Wines (Dec. 2008; Vegan since 2005 vintages)

D’Angelo Estate Winery and B&B (in Penticton, BC) (April 2010)

Edge of the Earth Vineyards (promoted as a vegan winery) (April 2010)

Elephant Island Orchard Wines (April 2010)

GlenterraVineyards (Feb. 2010)

Jackson Triggs Okanagan Estate (Dec. 2008)

Joie Wines (Dec. 2008)

Lotus Land Vineyards (Dec. 2010)

Rollingdale Winery (Jan. 2009)

Rustic Roots Winery (Jan. 2009)

St Urban Winery (Jan. 2009)

Summerhill Pyramid Winery (Jan. 2009)

The View Winery (Jan. 2009)

Vegan-Friendly

Gabriola Island Winery (Feb. 2009)
(Only their whites are vegan. Egg white may or may not be used in their reds)

Forbidden Fruit Winery (April 2010)
(Most of their wines are vegan and use certified organic fruit. The only non-vegan exception is the Ice Lady Mistelle, which includes honey)

Fox Trot Vineyards (April 2010)
(Although some of their vintages have been vegan, like the 2006 & 2007 Pinot Noir, as well as some vintages of their Chardonnay, they do use eggwhites in some of their wines. Future vintages may or maynot include animal ingredients, so check with the winery on specific vintages)

Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards (Dec. 2008)
(Only their reds are vegan. Milk is used in their whites and ice wines)

Larch Hills Winery (April 2010)
(Only their whites are vegan. They use egg whites in their red wines)

Marichel Winery (April 2010)
(Depending on the wine and vintage, they occasionally use egg whites or gelatin for fining. All of the wines produced in 2010 will be vegan, according to proprietor Richard Roskell)

Vista D’Oro Winery (Jan. 2009)
(New winery. Only two releases in 2007: 2007 D’oro and 2007 Pinot Noir. Both are vegan, though check with winery on future vintages, as they could start using animal ingredients. 2007 Pinot Noir contains Cabernet from France, so not 100% local)

Not Vegan-Friendly*

Calona Vineyards
(cannot guarantee animal products won’t be used at any point)

Gray Monk Estate Winery
(use egg whites in reds, gelatin in most whites)

Paradise Ranch Wines
(uses gelatin and isinglass in their wines)

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
(producing since 1991; only 2007 and 2008 vintages are said to be vegan, though they cannot guarantee animal products will not be used in future vintages. See the comments section below for details)

Sandhill Wines
(cannot guarantee animal products won’t be used at any point)

Tantalus Vineyards
(states that animal products not used in any wines, though 2007 Pinot Noir used egg whites. Cannot guarantee animal products will not be used in future vintages)

*What makes a wine not vegan?

In the process of producing a wine, many producers use fining agents that help to clarify their final product. Some of these fining agents include isinglass (fish swimbladders), casein (from the stomachs of calves), egg whites, gelatin, chitosan (i.e. from shrimp shells), milk, and blood. Other wine producers use products such as compressed paper, clay, and other plant-based and alternative fining agents that don’t require the use of animal-derived ingredients. These animal-based fining agents are also used in many beers (with the exception of some German beers).

Note that not all organic wines are vegan

Some organic wine producers do use some animal ingredients in their wines. The use of caesin, isinglass, egg whites, and milk are acceptable according to Canadian federal organic production standards. Also, not all bio-dynamic wines are vegan. Some bio-dynamic preparation practices include the use of animal’s body parts, such as bovine horns.

For a comprehensive list of vegan wines, beers, and other alcohol from around the world, visit Barnivore and the Vegan Wine Guide.

Page last updated: December 6th, 2010.