Is It Vegan? Wine, Beer & Spirits

What 'fining' means

After fermentation, wine and beer contain proteins and yeast that make the liquid hazy. Producers add a 'fining agent' that binds to these particles, then settles to the bottom and is removed. Most traditional fining agents are animal-derived.

• Isinglass — collagen from fish bladders (sturgeon traditionally).
• Gelatin — from animal bones / skin.
• Egg whites (albumin) — for red wines.
• Casein — milk protein, for white wines.
• Chitin — sometimes from crustacean shells.

Vegan alternatives: bentonite clay, pea protein, activated charcoal, plant-based PVPP.

Wine

In India, most domestic wine doesn't list fining agents on the label. Use Barnivore or stick to brands that explicitly mark vegan.

• Vegan-certified Indian wines: Sula (most), Fratelli (most), Grover Zampa (check), York (some), Big Banyan (most).
• Imports: look for 'unfined and unfiltered' on the label, or 'suitable for vegans.'

Beer

Bottled mass-market lagers and most craft beers are vegan. Cask ale and some Belgian beers use isinglass.

• Safe in India (usually): Kingfisher, Bira 91, White Owl, Simba, Goa Brewing Co., Ginger.
• Check: Guinness (now vegan globally), most British ales.

Spirits

Pure distilled spirits are almost always vegan — distillation removes everything but ethanol and flavour compounds.

• Safe: vodka (most), gin, tequila, rum (most), whisky (most), brandy.
• Check: cream liqueurs (Bailey's = dairy), some aged whiskies use 'honey finishing,' some flavoured spirits, Campari (used to use carmine; reformulated 2006 — now vegan).

Cocktails

• Generally vegan: mojito, margarita, gin & tonic, Old Fashioned, Negroni, espresso martini (with oat milk), Bloody Mary (ask no Worcestershire — has anchovies).
• Often not: White Russian, piña colada with dairy cream, anything with egg white (whisky sour, pisco sour — ask for aquafaba instead).

Barnivore.com

Truly the only source you need. Search any wine, beer, or spirit. They've checked over 50,000 brands.