Is Organic Wine Vegan?

From “organic” and “vegan” to “biodynamic” and “natural,” there are many eco-friendly terms thrown around when it comes to classifying wines beyond varietal and growing region. In fact, it might surprise you to discover that not all these terms (spoiler: any wine can be labeled a natural wine because this term is not regulated) are fully defined while others—like “biodynamic” and “organic”—are highly regulated across vineyard and winemaking practices.

Here’s a quick primer to help you sift through what’s legitimately organic and what’s not.

What Is Organic Wine?

In the United States, organic wines are defined as wines made using exclusively organic grapes and without any added sulfites. As you dig into this definition, it’s important to recognize two different points of distinction: the mention of sulfites and organic grapes.

To be a true organic wine in the United States, you must be certified by the USDA. This governmental body reviews vineyard and winery practices to determine if the wine meets the strict regulations needed to be deemed an organic wine. The USDA also regulates wines that are labeled “made with organic grapes,” but more on that later.  

What Ingredients Are Commonly Found in Organic Wines?

Depending on where the organic wine is vinified, sulfites may or may not be allowed. In Europe, sulfites are allowed—but in the United States, sulfites are not allowed in organic wines. This controversy over sulfites is a long and complicated story. In the simplest of terms, sulfites allow for microbial stability and many winemakers believe that by not using them, you are denigrating the quality of your final product.

This leads us to our next point of complexity: organic wines versus wines made with organic grapes. Both wines are made using organic grapes but organic wines (at least in the U.S.) are required to be made without sulfites. As we stated before, many winemakers think that a minimal amount of sulfites greatly improves the stability and longevity of the final wine. This brought about the need for a naming convention for wines that used organic grapes but were not organic wines due to the use of sulfites. The term became “made with organic grapes.”

When you see the term “made with organic grapes” on a label, you can be certain that the wine is made with grapes from a Certified Organic vineyard and contains less than 100ppm (parts per million) of sulfites—just enough to maintain the quality and shelf life of the wine.

What Is the Difference Between Organic Wine and Vegan Wine?

Organic wine and vegan wine are often appealing to the same person, but they are not mutually inclusive. Organic wines are wines made with organic grapes whereas vegan wines are not required to be made with organic grapes. Vegan wines are wines made with no animal byproducts. Organic wines may utilize animal byproducts during the winemaking process. If both constraints are important to you, make sure you look for bottles labeled both organic and vegan.

Are All Natural Wines Vegan?

Unlike the term “organic,” the term “natural” is not regulated by a governing body—except in France. Therefore, natural wines refer to wines made with minimal intervention in the vineyard or cellar. This means that they should be organic, free of any additives (meaning they’re likely also vegan) and sulfite free. But because this isn’t regulated, many people interpret this phrase in their own unique way that doesn’t always follow these principles.

A good rule of thumb is that if one of these principles is very important to you, don’t trust a bottle just because it says “natural wine.” This principle is likely familiar to you, as natural foods are not regulated in the U.S. either. These wines may or may not be made as you desired since there is no one to regulate this phrase.

What Are Biodynamic Wines?

Biodynamic wines are organic, plus they follow additional strict guidelines. To call a wine biodynamic, processes must be reviewed and certified by Demeter, a third-party certifying body. Biodynamic wines use organic grapes, do not use sulfites and adhere to strict biodynamic farming principles.

Biodynamic farming follows the idea that the vineyard should be farmed holistically, as one organism. The idea harkens back to Rudolf Steiner, the father of biodynamics, who wanted to create sustainable, regenerative agricultural practices. Moon cycles, tides and the terroir of the individual sites are all surveyed when farming biodynamically.

If you’re interested in trying a biodynamic wine, make sure to look out for the Demeter certification symbol on the wine label. This also applies if you’re on the hunt for an organic wine, as all biodynamic wines are organic.