When In Wine Country: An Okanagan Guide to Vegan Wines
If you've ever visited the Okanagan, you'll know that wine touring is one of the top tourist activities to partake in here. The views are beautiful, the wines are delicious and usually the company is lovely too, LOL.
Did you know that the wine you love may not be vegan? Or better yet, did you know that wine isn't always vegan? I know, crazy right?! It all comes down to the fining agents used in the preparation of the wine. Some wineries use isinglass (fish bladder) or egg albumin (egg white) as fining agents. I know your mind is blown right about now!
Fortunately there are PLENTY of wineries that don't use these fining agents and prefer to use bentonite clay instead. I'm so pleased to have learned that a lot of my favourite wineries use this practice!
This list will continue to grow as I research and connect with more wineries but it's a great place to start especially if you're in the Kelowna area.
Also note that some wineries may or may not be certified organic or vegan. Knowing that they do not use animal products is personally good enough for me. It will be noted when a winery is certified organic otherwise you can be assured that no animal products are involved in the processes of the following wineries. I have received this information by directly contacting the winery personally!
West Kelowna
My stomping grounds! We love West Kelowna for its quieter vibes and neighbourhoods that are nestled between plots of vineyards. My husband and I have visited nearly every winery on the westside and love that a few of our favourites are right around the corner from our home!
In no particular order here is a list of vegan friendly wineries in West Kelowna!
Little Straw Vineyards - all vegan friendly
The Hatch - all vegan friendly
Black Swift Vineyards - vegan friendly save 1: Screaming Frenzy Pinot Noir is fined with egg white
Quail's Gate Winery - the following wines are vegan friendly:
- 'Richard's Block' Pinot Noir
- 'Rosemary's Block' Chardonnay
- Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir
- Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery - all vegan friendly
Beaumont Winery - certified organic and all vegan friendly!
Indigenous World Winery - vegan friendly save 1: Simo Red wine.
Kelowna
Just across the bridge from us is another world of wineries that stretch from all sides of Kelowna! We haven't visited as many as we'd like but I figure since we live here, we'll get to them eventually!
Kitsch Wines - all vegan friendly
The Vibrant Vine - all vegan friendly
Ricco Bambino - all vegan friendly, all unfiltered!
Sandhill Winery - all vegan friendly
Summerhill Pyramid Winery - all vegan friendly
CedarCreek Estate Winery - all vegan friendly, received their organic certification in 2019 so some current releases are organic and will all be certified organic by 2021!
That's the list so far my friends! As mentioned the list will continue to be updated with other regions of the Okanagan so you can enjoy vegan friendly wines wherever you go. Salut!
If you are a winery in the Okanagan that fits the criteria but not on the list, feel free to email me here to be added.