Our Favorite Vegan Wines and Champagnes, for a Totally Ethical Sip

Longtime vegans are painfully aware of the fact that not all wine is completely plant-based — sometimes, during the fermentation process, winemakers will add "fining agents" to clear the wine of unwanted proteins or tannins. And occasionally, these processing aids are made from casein (milk protein), albumin (egg whites), gelatin (animal protein), or isinglass (fish bladder protein).

That being said, sometimes vegans have to do extensive research to find out if a bottle of wine or bubbly is actually vegan, because the agents aren't technically additives, and therefore, aren't included in the ingredients . So, we've compiled a list of our favorite vegan bottles that are 100 percent plant-based, for a tasty and sustainable sip.

Winc is offering a new vegan-friendly wine brand called Wonderful Wine Co. that's produced with organic grapes, eco-friendly production techniques, and natural-cork bottling. It comes in red, white, and orange, in starter packs equipped with three, six, or 12 bottles that can be delivered to your doorstep. TBH, we're in love.

Besa mi Vino is a canned wine company that offers two delicious (and vegan!) flavors: Just Right White and All Day Rosé, which are both gluten-free, sulfite sensitive, and comprised of organic grapes. They're now available at select Northern California Safeway stores, in 300 stores throughout California, at VeggieGrill locations nationwide, and on Drink Besa's website, going for $40 per six-pack.

For a full-bodied white wine, Kendall-Jackson's 2018 Vinter's Reserve Chardonnay is completely plant-based, and perfect for every fall feast or sunny day outside. With notes of tropical pineapple and papaya, and hints of vanilla, honey, and oak, it's a total crowd-pleaser in the realm of white wines. It goes for $17 on the winery's website, and is also available at several online wine retailers.

For a vegan-friendly classic champagne, Lanson Black Label Brut has a floral essence, with hints of toast and sweet fruit. It goes for about $40 on wine.com, but it's worth every penny for a little celebration.

Chêne Bleu is a high-end winery that primarily focuses on sustainability, the health of its employees, and the well-being of the environment. They offer two red bottles called Heloise ($90) and Abelard ($90); a white called Aliot ($55); and a rosé called Le Rosé ($37), all of which are vegan. The winery also set up a crowdfunding campaign called the SustainaBEElity Initiative, which focuses on working with bee scientists to study benefits of using the vineyard as a bee sanctuary. 

That's right — the iconic yellow-labeled bubbly is free of animal products and animal byproducts, so pop that bottle of Veuve (it goes for about $20 on Wine Library!) and raise a glass to some fancy vegan champagne.

Elouan Wines is an Oregon-based winery that boasts an all-vegan lineup, including a Chardonnay ( $19.99), Rosé ($19.99), Pinot Noir ($21.99), Klamath’s Kettle Reserve Pinot Noir ($44.99), and Missoulan Wash Reserve Pinot Noir ( $44.99). The winery is partnered with  Trees for the Future (TREES), an international nonprofit that focuses on replanting trees across the globe, and with their “Enjoy a Bottle, Plant a Tree” initiative, they plant a tree for each bottle sold through Dec. 31.

Santa Julia wines are available at Whole Foods and on Amazon, they're super affordable, and — most importantly — they're completely vegan. The available varieties include: a rosé, Santa Julia Innovacion Rose Malbec Syrah; two reds, Santa Julia Innovacion Malbec Tempranillo and Santa Julia Malbec Del Mercado; and a white, Santa Julia Torrontes Del Mercado. 

Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power teamed up to create vegan wine brand, Avaline, which offers an all-organic red, white, and rosé, which cost about $24 each.

Looking for a subscription service? Vegan Wines has you covered! The membership includes six bottles of international vegan wines, which are delivered to your doorstep three times annually in winter, spring, and fall. All bottles are organic, and they come with plant-based recipes to accompany each glass. The subscription costs $140 to $200 per personal shipment, along with the option to include vegan cheese. Count us in!

Moët & Chandon’s champagnes are all vegan-friendly, including the brand's Moët Impérial Brut ($44) and their Moët Rosé Impérial ($60). This holiday season, the brand is creating personalized Specially Yours gift boxes, which are limited-edition and an awesome gift for your vegan pals.

There are so many vegan wines out there that deserve praise, but these are — by far — our faves. Cheers!