Without animal ingredients wine especially for vegans

No animal left: Vegan wine production in Germany
Vegan diet is trendy. More and more people are choosing a diet that does not require animal products. Often this is not so easy, as hidden in many foods animal ingredients are included. Even in the wine are sometimes found parts of fish bubbles, gelatin or other animal protein. But some German wine growers are now switching to vegan production.

Many foods contain hidden animal ingredients
More and more people in Germany live for health, moral and ethical reasons meat-free. Vegan foods have long since left niche existence in the health food store and have become "mainstream". What many people are unaware of, however: whether bread, wine or bananas: foods are often not vegetarian or vegan. For example, Lab cheese is often found to be made from calf stomachs. And in the wine you can sometimes find parts of fish bubbles, gelatin or other animal protein. But now some German wineries are switching to vegan production. Some pioneers have to overcome special hurdles.

Vegan wine on trend. Image: Eléonore H - fotolia

Vegan wine bar opened in the middle of the German wine region
Tobias Franz and Marion Lohsse are also such pioneers. They have chosen powerful opponents, including the sausage. "Of course we had reservations at first and thought it might be too early," Marion Lohsse told the dpa news agency. "There are people here who avoid meat-free food like the devil does holy water." The couple, in their mid-40s, recently opened a vegan wine bar in Mainz. As the dpa reports, the two offer their guests in Rhineland-Palatinate only food in which no animal products, such as eggs, are processed. In addition, only vegan wines are on offer. It is said that the irritation in Mainz, which lies in the middle of a wine region, is great at this point. Most casual drinkers may not realize that wine may have come into contact with animal products during manufacture. Tobias Franz said: "I myself did not know it for a long time."

For years you can find hint "vegan" on wine bottles
However, a closer look at the wine labels in a reasonably well stocked supermarket would suffice today. For a long time many winemakers write the note "vegan" on their bottle labels. "For five years, the topic has picked up momentum. There are more and more inquiries about how to be certified, "said Ralph Dejas, CEO of the Ecological Viticultural Association Ecovin. There are differences in the production. Winegrowers have been using and taking animal products to help clear non-vegan wine.

Proteins from fish bladder or gelatin for wine production
"For centuries, protein was beaten into the wine. This binds the turbidity, which then settle, so that the clear wine can be withdrawn, "said Paulin Köpfer, operations manager at the winery Wilhelm Zähringer in Baden, which produces completely vegan since 2012. But it is only one of many in Germany. According to the information, proteins from the fish bladder or gelatine can help in the clarification. And even if nothing is found later in the bottle later, a clarified wine for vegans but also for many other people is no longer drinkable. Nevertheless, they also want wine. "We have made extensive attempts to switch to plant proteins. These are preferably derived from peas or wheat, "explained Köpfer. Hubertus Weinmann, head of the winery Neumer in Rheinhessen, which has also completely switched to vegan production, reported similar. This also has other positive side effects. "There were two reasons. For one, of course, animal welfare. On the other hand, gelatine exudes a somewhat musty odor during production, which one does not like so much, "explained Weinmann.

There can be no question of resignation
While modern people are well aware that vegans are not cost-savvy, some winemakers are concerned by the somewhat ascetic image that still clings to vegans in certain circles. Therefore, for example, the winery Zähringer relies on discreet references to the bottles. "The idea was that wine should not primarily be associated with abandonment as a stimulant," explained Fabian Zähringer. In the Mainz wine bar Gutenberger can also be no mention of resignation. The wine list is full. Some locals would still shit their heads at the prospect of vegan egg salad, but the owner of the house found favor with the vegan audience. His guests usually eat quite consciously, which includes the moderate consumption of alcohol. (Ad)