10 Vegan Wines Under $25 from Volcanic Hills Estate Winery

Not only are these wines vegan but they are delicious and affordable. (Discount code is at the bottom of this post). I know what you’re thinking, all grapes are vegan, what are you talking about Kaitlyn? Believe it or not, it’s not about the grapes when it comes to what makes a wine vegan or not. It has to do with what the wine is filtered or fined with. Many ingredients can be used to filter or fine wine and it is not always clear what was used because it is not mandatory to include that information on the bottle. Find out what makes a wine not vegan at the end of this post. On to the wine.

1. 2019 Gamay Noir - $20.60

This is one of my favourites, it is also one of Volcanic Hills’ best sellers. Try it slightly chilled! Ruby red with aromas and flavours of cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, cherry, hints of soft fennel and cinnamon, rounded out with an earthy finish. Light-bodied, this wine has spent 4 months in French and American oak and shows soft tannins with juicy acidity.

2. 2018 Viognier - $24.10

Viogniers were my favourite varietal this past summer. I love the structure and flavours that come through in the Okanagan Viognier grapes. Light straw in colour, apricot, peach, stone, blossom aromas, flowers and soft tree fruit. Light to medium-bodied, the palate displays a fun and easy-drinking blend of apricot and peaches on the finish.

3. 2016 Magma Red - $23.09

This is one of those blends that pretty much everyone likes. It’s not too sweet, it’s not too bold, it’s nicely balanced but still has lots of flavours. This wine is a blend of Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Marechal Foch, and Cabernet Franc. It’s light-medium ruby in colour, fruity with aromas of cherry, plum, light smoke with hints of white pepper, herbs and floral. On the palate is a mix of red and dark berries with just a hint of pepper. A touch of sweetness and balanced acidity with integrated light tannin makes this an easy-sipping red wine.

4. 2018 Pinot Gris - $19.09

You have to love a good Pinot Gris. If they’re done right, they are very likeable. Even as a red- wine drinker, I enjoy this Pinot Gris even in the winter. That says a lot. Off-dry, un-oaked, light-bodied, exhibiting beautiful aromas of Anjou pear, apple skin, citrus and mineral. The palate is fresh, with pear, apple and rounding out with a citrus lemon/lime finish. Top of Form

5. 2018 Single Vineyard Gewürztraminer - $25.09

It’s pale straw in colour with a nicely lifted bouquet of fresh gala apple, lychee fruit, poached pear, Meyer lemon and baking spices. The off-dry, medium-bodied palate is fresh and round, echoing the nose with more apple, peach, lychee, spice, and subtle notes of perfume. The finish is moderate and mineral-driven.

6. 2017 Magma White - $19.09

Magma white is a great blend. It is carefully balanced and intentionally blended. Light straw in colour, this is a dry wine that is brimming with ripe fruit character, reminiscent of an Okanagan Sunset. On the nose, aromas of poached peaches, pears, and white flowers waft out of the glass. On the medium-bodied palate, enjoy flavours of apricot, pineapple, lychee, and mandarin slices with a hint of ginger and lingering minerality.

7. 2018 Lava Red - $25.09

I call this the red wine for white wine drinkers. It pairs with everything, low in tannins, and has a subtle sweetness. Lava Red is super easy to drink…aromas of dark cherry, plum, with a hint of spice & floral. It’s sweet on the entry with flavours of dark cherry/ berries with notes of blackberry. It’s super fruity, easy drinking with soft tannins and a smooth finish. Try chilling this red or serve at room temperature.

8. 2018 Bubbly Gewurztraminer - $24.09 (or 2017 for $20.80)

Okay honestly, I sabered a bottle of this for my champagne birthday when I turned 25 and it was my first ever saber attempt not my last. This dry sparkling wine shows elegant aromas of lychee with soft floral notes. Mouth-watering flavours of kiwi' green apple and citrus lead to a finish that is bright and cleansing.

9. 2018 Lava White -

A slightly sweeter blend for my white wine lovers. Easy drinking, will cut the spice of any dish. This wine offers enticing aromas and flavours of rose, peach, nectarine, apple with a note of spice. Lightly sweet, with well-balanced acidity makes this wine food and beach-friendly! Kick back, relax and enjoy the clean, super fruity finish.

10. 2019 Gewurztraminer - $20.60

When you think of Gewürztraminers, you might automatically assume that it will be sweet. That isn’t the case with this wine. It still has all of those light fruity flavours on the palate but, it’s not syrupy sweet like some other gews that I’ve tried. Unique in style, this Dry Gewurztraminer is bright with juicy acidity and offers lifted aromas of crab apples, poached pears, lychee, white flowers, vanilla bean, and light baking spices. A food-friendly wine, citrus and crunchy green apple notes shine through on the palate and are backed up with a delicate finish of nutmeg and ginger.

Over $30 and noteworthy:

2019 Bubbly Rosé - $26.10 - under $25 with my discount ;)

I like this bubbly because one, it's pink, and two, it's not too sweet! Expect to find mouth-watering aromas and flavours of Wild Strawberry, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Grapefruit, Cranberry, and delicate Violets. This is a wine designed for celebrating all of life's simple pleasures.

I have a discount code for 15% off at Volcanic Hills for you too, KAITLYN15 – Valid until Dec 24th at 11:59PM PST.

Why some wines aren’t Vegan

Some of the animal-derived ingredients that are used are: Isinglass (gelatine derived from fish), egg albumen (derived from egg-whites), bone marrow, casein, fish oil, fish bladder. Other methods of fining wines are different types of clay, sound, and simply time. None of these products stay in the wine as they are used as a binding or clarifying agent and then everything is filtered out.