Rose Pedals

You’re getting married and the mouth-watering vegan menu is set. But wait! What is going to make that menu pop? What will enhance the flavors and get your guests in an even better mood? What is going to make you look super fancy by understanding the nuances of fine dining? The perfect wine pairings. But wait again! You don’t know how to find the perfect wine pairings for your menu, you don’t have time to even if you did know, and you would be paying full price for the wines you’d choose. That’s where the Vegan Sommelier comes in. While other sites just list vegan wines, they select, sell and ship vegan wines that are perfect for your menu, and they do it with a smaller carbon footprint. We asked them to tell us more about how they do what they do.

How did Vegan Sommelier come to be? 

Like most consumers, we did not know that all wine was not necessarily vegan. In 2009, we read an article in Forbes Magazine and learned that if you cannot confirm that your wine is vegan, then your wine, even your organic wine, may have been processed with shrimp shells, dairy, eggs, bovine tissue, even a sturgeon’s bladder. We asked our friends and realized that no one, not even our vegan friends, knew how some wines were processed. And we also realized that it is almost impossible to determine how a wine you have selected was processed. Winemakers are unlikely to announce that they have used a fish bladder to process their cabernet! And store clerks simply don’t know the mechanics of winemaking for each and every bottle in the shop. With so many consumers opposing the use of animals whether for philosophical reasons, health or tenets of their faith, knowing what is in their wine is critical. So, we decided to start a wine shipping business offering vegan consumers the confidence of knowing that no animal products were used in the processing of their wines.

Tell us a bit about what you do.

Vegan Sommelier is a family owned business licensed in Virginia as an internet wine retailer. We research, taste and select wines made the traditional way without the use of animal products. Our wines are made by smaller, usually family owned, wineries and are offered in limited production. We know the importer who knows and consults with the winemaker! So, we know, and it’s our business to know, what’s in your wine.  No more asking around, driving around searching and still not being able to trust the answer. At Vegan Sommelier, shopping is easy. No pages and pages of wines with bloated, pretentious descriptions. We don’t offer more choices just better ones! We have a collection of limited production wines that we ship to your door through UPS and we participate in the UPS Carbon Neutral Program. With all that, we offer vegan consumers credibility, convenience and a smaller carbon footprint.  And we offer world class wines that just happen to be vegan.

How long have you been vegan? What inspired you to make the change?

We had parted company with meat many years ago but it was not until we met and talked with Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine that we said NO to dairy. Dr. Barnard explained the process of making milk from the very beginning to the store. We were horrified. The fact that dairies provide calves for the veal industry remains, sadly, one of the best kept dirty secrets in this country. We believe if people really knew the sad story of milk, they would not drink it from a carton and certainly would not want it used in the processing of their wine.

How did you fall into the sommelier world?

There is a world of grapes out there! We enjoy trying the different varietals and learning the process of pairing the right wine with the right dish. The perfect pairing makes all the difference. On occasion, you may sip a wine that does not appeal to you standing on it’s own but when served with the right dish, you might find it works! When we realized the need for this kind of knowledge, we turned our interest it into a business.

What is the most common question you get about vegan wine? And what’s the answer? 

Consumers generally ask “why don’t I know about this?” Consumers, assuming that what went into making a bottle of wine was pretty much just grapes, are shocked to learn how many wines are processed. The answer, much like the dairy industry’s silence on veal, is that the winemakers don’t want you to know. Would you buy a bottle of wine if you knew that fish guts had been used in the processing? Of course not. Because of the potential for allergic reaction, both New Zealand and Australia require labeling on bottles of wine distributed in their countries that have been processed with a list of known allergens. Efforts to require any kind of labeling for any reason in this country have consistently failed. The other questions that is often asked is whether “organic” means vegan in the wine world. The answer is a definite NO. Your wine may still have been processed with “organic” bovine tissue! Don’t be fooled. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t drink it!

Which sparkling wines are best for this time of year?

Many people do plan wines around the seasons, serving richer wines with winter’s heartier meals, and medium bodies wines as we move into the vegetables of Spring and Summer.  So, it really comes down to the meal itself, and Champagne and sparkling wines are no different.  They are the wine of choice for celebrations – weddings, New Years Eve, and Valentines Day, so it’s important to select the right one.  Few know this “rule” but dry Champagne and sparkling wines should be service with textured food such as French fries, empanadas, and veggies wrapped in phyllo dough.  Dessert and wedding cake should be served with an ever so slightly sweet sparkling wine.  If you don’t, both the dessert and the wine will taste washed out or even bitter.  Do a taste test yourself. Pair a slice of cake with a dry and slightly sweet sparkling. Well?

What drinks do you recommend for a spring wedding?

A must is a quality champagne or sparking wine.  If you’re serving the bubbly with the cake, make sure it is slightly sweet, such as in a Brut.  Don’t be fooled by the name on the bottle, since the sec (sweet) and demi sec (slightly sweet) are actually drier than the Brut. Our St. Martin Saumur Brut is a perfect choice because it pairs well with wedding cake, but can also be served with appetizers or a meal.

The red and white wines should also be versatile so they can be served with just about anything.  You also want grapes that everyone knows or will love at first sip.  Your wedding is a time for fun, not introducing your guests to something new.  The bride should serve low oak wines packed with fruit so that there is no clash with the tannins and the food.  For the red, we suggest our Hedges CMS, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend.  For the white, we recommend either our Yalumba Viognier or Chateau de la Vielle Tour Bordeaux Blanc, a Sauvignon Blanc blend.  Both whites are fruity and slightly crisp, and are true crowd pleasers.  We know weddings are expensive, time consuming and stressful. We can help. Vegan Sommelier has an excellent selection of economically priced high quality wines that your guests will enjoy. Send us your menu, and we will pair the wines for you.

What’s your favorite part of your job? And what’s your personal favorite drink? 

Our favorite part of the business is introducing customers to different grapes and the wonderful world of authentic, traditionally made wines that truly reflect the land and the country of origin. Our favorite wines tend to be the wines that pair well with vegan dishes such as wines from the Rhone in France, Oregon Pinot Noir, and wines from the Piedmont in Italy, particularly our Nebbiolo!

Anything else you want to share?

Yes! The wine world is changing. Mass production has hit winemaking, that is, the burger-kinging of wine is in full swing. The movie Mondo Vino shows the conflict between the small traditional wineries and the wine processors.

Vegan Sommelier

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