Choose Sustainable Vegan Wine & Celebration Fizz
Wine seems simple, grapes go in, wine comes out. Yet many bottles aren’t vegan, because producers may use animal-based fining agents to make wine look clear. At the same time, “sustainable” can cover a lot, from vineyard sprays and water use to energy in the winery, packaging, and fair work.
Choosing sustainable vegan wine lets you line up your glass with your values, without turning drinking into homework. It can also suit people who avoid certain allergens, and it often supports growers who care for their land long-term.
Terra Organic sells nice vegan organic wines.
Vinca organic vegan wine (in cans or metal bottles)
VINCA Organic Wine is sold in cans, which use up to 70% less CO2 to transport than glass bottles. In four varieties (white, sparkling white, rosé and red), you can also mixed can bundles.
The Sicilian grapes contain naturally low levels of sulphur (from fermenting yeast), around a third of levels found on supermarket wine bottles.
For tins, rinse then remove lids (pop in cans) or pop ring-pulls back over holes. Pinch or flatten cans, to stop wildlife getting trapped. Send off used corks to Recorked, to be made into other things (corks are too dense to compost and choking hazards, if left around).
Organic wines are sealed in nifty aluminium cans, instead of bulky glass bottles. Not only does this protect the taste, but it also cuts down on much of the usual environmental harm from traditional winemaking.
Cans are lighter and more compact than glass bottles, making them a win for reduced emissions during transport.
The company also sells a pretty cooler bag for travel, which has a reversible lid that converts into a drinks tray. Cans are not just easier to recycle, but also good for people who like a glass or two of wine, and stops you finishing off the whole bottle! Delivery is free on all orders. Trade orders are welcome.
Vinca Organic Wines in Bottles
Vinca now also make wine in bottles. Including white, red and rosé. The difference is that these bottles are made from recycled aluminium rather than glass, so easy to recycle. You can even earn money for your community by getting involved in local aluminium collection programmes.
Most councils collect wine bottles (wrap broken glass in thick paper and bin). If bottle banks are full, there is usually a phone number to call (don’t leave bottles outside full banks). You only need to rinse them quickly, and you can also leave on screw-top lids and labels.
How much wine should be drink (?!)
If you like your wine a bit too much, know that NHS guidelines are per week:
- 6 glass of wine or
- 6 pints of beer or
- 14 units of spirits
So if you only drink wine – that’s one glass per night, with a day off! You’ll then at least be drinking within proper guidelines!
Amie (organic vegan rosé wines)
Amie Wine is a brand of wine that offers organic rosé vegan wines, which donate a portion of sales to clean water charities. This ‘wine for friends’ is produced in the South of France.
While millions of plastic water bottles get bought and littered in England, we forget that we have the luxury of clean safe water from the tap. Yet despite being essential for living, over 3 million people die each year (mostly children under 5) from lack of access to clean safe water.
This also leaves families trapped in poverty, as some have to spend hours each day collecting water from miles away, rather than studying or working.
Where to buy cases of organic vegan wines
The Goodness Project offers many organic vegan wines, and also produces corporate gifting services.
So if you fancy sending a bespoke hamper of wine and vegan chocolates to a colleague, this is the company to order from (it also plants trees for each order, and donates each month to chose animal welfare charities).
VEO Wines is an online shop that sells organic vegan wines, and nothing else. So all the hard work of finding the best brands has been done for you by experts.
You can buy pre-mixed cases or mix your own case. Not all the wines are local, but you can filter by country to choose English wines from Oxney Estate (England’s largest organic vineyard).
Sustainable Sparkling Wines (and celebration fizz)
Prosecco (an Italian sparkling wine) is now apparently the world’s most popular sparkling drink, selling far more bottles than Spanish cava and French champagne combined.
Named after a grape, the original grape must be within the drink, to legally be called Prosecco. If you don’t know your spumante from your frizzante, one is simply more bubbly than the other!
Vinca offers organic wine in cans, including a sparling variety for special occasions. Made from Grillo grapes from sun-drenched Sicilian vineyards, this is an excuse to celebrate small wines, when you need just a 200ml glass, with floral and peach notes.
Organic Prosecco to Help Wild Animals
Wild Thing Organic Prosecco is a soft and lightly sparkling drink with gentle bubbles, and soft apple and pear aromas (and an uplifting refreshing citrus palate). In a handy bottle that can be re-sealed.
A donation is made for each bottle sold, to Born Free Foundation (which rescues zoo and circus animals, campaigns for better welfare and enables you to report concerns over captive animals).
Organic Vegan Prosecco from Italy
Giol Prosecco Frizzante is organic and vegan, so suitable for everyone. A classic Italian fizz with fruity notes of green apple and peach. Great value, this is from an Italian family estate that has been making wines since 1427. Vittorio says ‘Experience matters!’
Wild Life Botanicals (no alcohol, from Cornwall)
Wild Life Botanicals is made in Cornwall, created (with help from a naturopath, brewer and taste developer) by the founder of Cornish Sea Salt. Also in cans, the range includes Nude (gooseberry, greenage, banana) and Blush (wild strawberry, rosehip, orchard fruits).
Contains the herb ashwagandha (so although alcohol-free, avoid for pregnancy/nursing and if on medication or awaiting surgery).
Just 35 calories per glass! The gift boxes are adorned with images by a Cornish artist. Serve chilled in champagne flutes.
