Prosecco Day is but a month old (August 13) – and that means there’s never been a better time to replenish your stock of prosecco and find the perfect tipple for summer evenings, celebratory toasts and dinner parties.
With that being said, vegans and vegetarians will need to be careful about which prosecco brands they fill their wine rack with. Unfortunately, some prosecco brands use animal products such as milk protein, fish oil or egg whites during the fining process of production. Luckily for the UK’s 1.6 million vegans, however, the rise of plant-based diets in recent years has seen the number of vegan wine options skyrocket.
The huge rise in interest around the term “vegan prosecco” has seen everyone from Aldi to M&S jump aboard the vegan bandwagon. Virgin Wines recently revealed that their sales of vegan wine have risen by 51% in just two years, selling a staggering 1,735,730 bottles of vegan wines in 2021 alone; with the growing popularity of vegan-friendly drinks options, you can now find an array of superb vegan prosecco covering all price ranges and tastes.
With the ever-increasing number of vegan prosecco choices on the market, which ones should you make room for in your cupboard? The plant-based lifestyle experts at Free Soul take a look at which options you need to try if you’re a vegan with a thirst for some sweet bubbly this summer.
Follador Prosecco Superiore DOCG Torri di Credazzo
Price: £11.99
This elegant prosecco hails from a top single vineyard, with hints of apple, peach and rose petals in a medium dry body. Ideal to pair with olives or vegan cheese as an apéritif, this prosecco’s rave reviews attest to its versatility and popular appeal, making it a solid choice for guests or celebratory affairs.
La Gioiosa Prosecco Brut
Price: £10, on offer at Morrisons for £8 until 16/08/2022
This affordable prosecco is a dry, lemony choice with a hint of almonds – plus, it’s available at most UK high street stores like Morrisons, Tesco, Co-op, Majestic and Nisa, making it easy to pick up on your next grocery run. Try this one with vegan sushi or pasta dishes for a relaxing summer lunch.
Barocco Prosecco Rosé
Price: £10.99
Refined, elegant and refreshing, the wait for vegan prosecco rosé is over with this delicate and complex choice. Featuring notes of peach, green apple and lemon, this sparkling rosé is great for serving at garden parties, special occasions or before a meal.
Prosecco Valdobbiadene Millesimato DOCG, Villa Sandi
Price: £14.99
A more superior class of prosecco from the Villa Sandi estate, this International Wine & Spirits Challenge award-winning wine is clean, fruity and offers a subtle suggestion of acacia honey. Soft and generous on the palette, it’s the ideal match for vegan canapes or panettone.
Plaza Centro Prosecco
Price: £7.50
A more affordable option, this classic Italian sparkling wine has bright citrus fruit flavours and works well as a pairing for light bites or with orange juice for a prosecco cocktail. Lively and refreshing, this is a great crisp and fruity choice to save for hot summer afternoons.
John Townend, Managing Director at wine merchants House of Townend, comments: “With the explosive popularity of veganism in recent years, it’s now easier than ever to find vegan prosecco options from leading producers all over the world as brands alter their fining agents to plant-friendly alternatives like silica gel, pea gelatine and activated charcoal – or you can opt to go organic and choose proseccos which haven’t gone through the fining process at all. Whether you’re looking for an affordable choice for a casual catch-up with friends or an award-winning prosecco for a formal event, there has never been a stronger array of choices out there to satisfy even the most discerning of tastes.”
Now you’ve got your vegan fizz, here are our top tips on how to perfectly pop your prosecco bottle.