Vegan Sustainable Wines (and sparkling bubbly!)
VINCA Organic Wine sells organic vegan wines in recycled aluminium bottles, that are easy to recycle. You can even earn money for your community by getting involved in local aluminium collection programmes.
The Sicilian grapes contain naturally low levels of sulphur (from fermenting yeast), around a third of levels found on supermarket wine bottles.
Most kerbsides accept wine bottles (if bottle banks are full, call the number, don’t leave bottles on the floor). Rinse beforehand (to avoid tempting wildlife) and leave on screw-top lids/labels.
If your off license does not recycle, store used corks safely (choking hazards and too dense to compost) and send in bulk to Recorked.
Rinse and pop ring-pulls over holes for cans. Then step on bottom to pinch rims together, before recycling (stops wildlife getting trapped).
Many wines are filtered with gelatine (animal bones) or fish bladder (isinglass). So choose vegan wines in stores, which tend to be the ones that carry organic labels (these are also less likely to give you a hangover!)
What would help is if off licenses and supermarkets grouped them by which wines are vegan, as often you have to go trawling through the aisles, looking for a vegan logo on the bottle. Many brands are not vegan or vegetarian (for instance, some wines by Blossom Hill and even Co-op are neither).
The cans 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 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 sparkling white wines
This brand also sells organic vegan sparkling wines in cans. Ideal for celebrations and weddings.
Terra Organica (cases of vegan organic wines)
Terra Organica was founded by former leading buyers for major supermarkets, who decided to bring their knowledge to sourcing vegan organic wines from across the world to your doorstep. Usually from independent and family-run wineries in Europe.
As of course it’s good to have ‘low wine miles’, these wines tend to be from Italy (rather than the USA or Australia), so you are supporting local family vineyards over the border. Wholesale orders are welcome, for shops, off licenses, restaurants and hotels.
You can also buy pre-mixed cases or build your own case. Isn’t it great to finally find somewhere that you can buy all your wines of every ilk, knowing that all of the mare both vegan and organic? If they can do this, why can’t all the others?
Try this red Rioja Crianza wine sold in cases of 3 or 6 bottles, ideal to accompany a Sunday vegan roast dinner or a homemade moussaka. Spain’s best-known wine is made near the Pyrenees region, on the border with France.
You can buy individual bottles, pre-mixed cases or build your own wine selection, for home delivery. Ideal for weddings.
Amie Organic Rosé Vegan Wines (helps water charities)
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.
Profits help bring clean water abroad
This brand partners with a charity that brings clean safe drinking water to people in global south countries. For each order, £1 is donated. So far it has raised over £35,000 and built two ‘amie wells’ in Uganda.
All Shook Up (vegan spritzers and cocktail drinks)
All Shook Up is a great brand of vegan-friendly spritzers and ready-made cocktail drinks. A lot of wines are not vegan (and high in alcohol). And cocktails are nice, but sometimes you don’t want the bother of making them yourself.
These are great if you fancy a little boozy tipple, but don’t want to drink a whole bottle of wine (or buy plastic bottles of sparkling water to make up spritzers). Sold in many stores and supermarkets, you can also order online (including mixed packs for parties).
Use code EnglandNaturally12 for 12% off on all orders. Discount applied automatically at checkout.
Rinse and pop ring-pulls over holes for cans. Then step on tops of cans to pinch rims together, before recycling (stops wildlife getting trapped).
All Shook Up Spritzers
In elderflower or peach flavours, these at least add some water (!) and are really nice, not too sweet. And saves you drinking a whole bottle of wine, once you’ve opened it!
All Shook Up Cocktails
Mojito is a sunny-afternoon or balmy evening cocktail of rum and mint, no muddling required!
Strawberry Daiquiri is a Cuban-inspired blend of strawberry and lime juice, with sugar syrup, fruit alcohol and white rum.
Passion Fruit Martini is made with fruit juice, sugar syrup and natural flavours, then shaken with fruit alcohol and vodka.
Davenport Vineyards (organic vegan wines from Kent)
Davenport Vineyards offers quality vegan organic wines, from the heart of Kent. Sold in sustainable packaging and soon to be powered by solar panels.
Most vineyards are in Kent (with one in neighbouring East Sussex). Each grape is hand-picked in autumn by their dedicated harvest team.
The range is mostly white wines, and it also produces its own organic apple juice in glass bottles. Avoid unpasteurised juices for pregnancy/nursing, children and weak immunity.
These wines protect local wildlife!
Davenport Vineyards have introduced a wide range of habitats across the vineyard, from wildflower meadows to long grass margins to untrimmed hedgerows, all to let local birds, insects and small mammals find food and shelter.
It has also installed nesting boxes for birds of prey, and has witnessed kestrels and barn owls successfully raising chicks here.
Wednesday’s Domaine (no and low alcohol wines)
Wednesday’s Domaine is a brand of vegan-friendly no and low-alcohol wines, with a fresh vibe to appeal to younger people especially who either avoid or drink less alcohol. Blending timeless craftmanship with natural ingredients, these wines are in two versions:
0.0% are for those who are avoiding alcohol. Note that even fruit has a tiny amount of booze, so still avoid for pregnancy/nursing.
Choose from 0.0% or 6.5%
You can choose alcohol-free wines or ones with less alcohol (traditional wine has 10 to 14% alcohol). These are good for people who wish to enjoy alcohol, but feel clear-headed the next day! Or perhaps over a lunch, when they have to go back to work (still don’t drive after consuming these).
These are organic wines from Spain that then have the alcohol reduced or removed. You can buy your favourites online, or mixed cases if you prefer to try a few different ones. The range includes:
Alcohol-Free wines include:
- Piquant is a crispy citrusy white wine with a floral finish.
- Sanguine has notes of raspberry, damson, blueberry and spice.
- Elan is sunshine in a glass, a pink-hued beauty rosé for balmy days, with notes of summer fruits.
- Vignette is a rich red wine with dark plum and damson notes, with shades of spice.
Wild Thing Organic Vegan Wines (help Born Free charity)
Wild Thing organic wines are not just vegan-friendly, but profits from each bottle help Born Free Foundation, a charity which rescues zoo and circus animals worldwide, and enables you to report concerns over captive animals. It also campaigns for better legal changes.
Wild Thing Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white wine from the arid vineyards of La Manca, a fruit balancing acidity for a bright crisp taste.
Wild Thing Organic Rosé is from sunny Spain, a red red fruit flavour wine to enjoy with fresh salad, tapas or vegan seafood.
Wild Thing Merlot is from an organic estate in central Spain, with notes of damson plum and blackberry fruit.
Wild Thing Organic Prosecco
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.
We are thrilled that Wild Thing is to be sold in aid of Born Free, to directly benefit conservation and animal welfare. I believe it fully deserves to be one of the most sought after and popular new organic wines. Virginia McKenna (co-founder of Born Free)
This wine has been developed by online store Vintage Roots (open a Reward Sips account to get discounts on future orders).
Wild Thing Organic Lager
Wild Thing Organic Lager is sold in dark amber glass bottles. Again profits help Born Free Foundation. Ths fresh and fruity brew is made with the award-winning Freedom Brewery in Staffordshire.
Wild Idol (no-alcohol sparkling wines)
Wild Idol sparkling wine is a sparkling rose with Müller Thurgau and Merlot grapes, for an authentic non-alcoholic drink. Halal-certified. The white wine has notes of apples and white peach and honeyed melon.
The rosé has zesty hints of gooseberry, rhubarb and grapefruit, finished with hints of vanilla and toasted almond.
You can find these wines in many stores, or buy cases of six bottles (mixed if wished) online.
Use this wine to make nice cocktails!
Wild Forest Spritz is made with Everleaf forest spirit. You can find many more nice cocktail recipes on the website.
Noughty Organic Sparkling Wines (no alcohol)
Noughty is one of the few brands in England that offers no-alcohol wines (including sparkling wine) that are also organic.
The sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay grapes, with half the sugar of most brands, just 14 calories per glass. Ideal for hangover-free celebrations.
Chardonnay is the world’s most popular wine, this one features a crisp and ripe apple nose, balanced with a touch of sweetness and just the right acidity.
Rosé has a sweet berry flavour, perfect for weddings and celebrations.
Noughty Blanc wine is made from dry-land farmed vineyards in the Western Cape region, where vines are not trellised but planted as bush vines. They are planted on west-facing slopes to capture cool breezes from the Atlantic Ocean and cold Benguela current.
Noughty Red wine is made from Syrah grapes from dryland farmed vineyards in Darling, South Africa. These grapes get the warm sunny and cooling effect of the Atlantic Ocean, and deep soils from decomposed granite and rich clay provide good drainage.
Wild Life Botanicals (no alcohol drinks 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).
Just 35 calories per glass! The gift boxes are adorned with images by a Cornish artist. Serve chilled in champagne flutes.
This drink contains ashwagandha. Some people are concerned as it’s banned in Denmark due to concern over inducing early births and possible toxicity.
Critics have said that the ban came into force due to animal tests (never accurate) and giving excessively high doses. It also is not taking into account the difference between risky leaf extracts and safer root extracts. But should be avoided for pregnancy/nursing and anyone on thyroid medication. Talk to your GP with any concerns.
