In this post, I’m going over all you need to know about the best gluten free wine. Like what types of wine are gluten free, the best brands, wine coolers, and more!
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Most people enjoy a glass of wine in the evening or on weekends. But if you’re gluten free you have to be a little more careful with your selections. I’m breaking down the best gluten free wine.
Is Wine Gluten Free?
Yes, unflavored Wine is naturally gluten free. Wines with additives or extra flavoring may not be gluten-free. Including sparkling wines like Prosecco and Champagne [a form of sparkling wine from France].
“The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau allows wines to be labeled “gluten-free,” as long as they comply with the FDA’s requirements of not being made with any gluten-containing grains and having less than 20 parts per million (ppm) gluten—and the vast majority of wines do comply.”
The best gluten free wine that naturally contains no gluten is
- Bordeau
- Cabernet
- Chardonnay
- Chianti
- Malbec
- Merlot
- Moscato
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Noir
- Port
- Riesling
- Rose
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Sherry
- Zinfandel & more
Potential Gluten Cross Contamination
If you have Celiac or are extremely sensitive to gluten cross-contamination, you may find yourself feeling glutened by certain wines—even wines without additives.
Red and white wine is made mostly from grapes, which are naturally gluten-free. The fermenting process also does not include any gluten. After fermentation, there’s a process called fining, in which substances are added to the wine to help clarify it, could potentially cause gluten to enter the bottle. During this process, fining agents bind with unwanted particles and debris in wine, which can then be filtered out so the wine appears clearer.
Sometimes, the use of wheat is used as a fining or clarifying, agent for the wine. If that’s the case, the gluten can remain in the bottle. For someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, this could potentially be harmful.
Wine fining agents such as egg whites and gelatin are gluten-free.
Even though there’s the possibility of cross contamination during the fining process or aging in oak barrels sealed with wheat paste, wine is widely considered gluten-free and safe.
Wine Coolers and Gluten
Mostly wine cooler are considered to be wine products. So, they might not realize how many other ingredients these alcoholic products contain—and how likely they are to contain gluten. Wine coolers are frequently made with barley malt, making them unsafe for anyone living a gluten free lifestyle.
Wine Coolers containing gluten [barley malt] include:
- Bacardi [only the Silver Malt]
- Seagram’s Escapes
- Boone’s Farm
Hard cider is almost always naturally gluten-free, which is a good alternative to wine coolers.
Best Gluten Free Wine Brands in 2023
- Inkarri Wines – Proviva Winery produces the brand using organic and biodynamic methods to create the best GF wine. An Argentinian brand specializing in reds, expect a full-bodied mouthfeel and lots of rich, fruity flavors from these wines.
- Koyle Family Vineyards – Koyle Family Vineyards is another example of the best GF wine using biodynamic methods. These winemakers grows grapes in their Chilean vineyards in the Andes mountains.
- Cupcake Vineyards – Cupcake Vineyards in California makes wine from grapes grown on its vineyard and also imports internationally crafted wines, like its Italian Prosecco Rosè.
- Chateau Beaubois – Located in the Rhone Valley of France, Château Beaubois offers a wide variety of wines from grapes grown in its vineyards.
- Radius Wine – An American brand, Radius Wine offers reds and whites made from grapes grown in California or Washington.
- Frey Vineyards – Another California brand, Frey Vineyards, holds the title of America’s first organic and Biodynamic winery. Using farming techniques, Frey Vineyard makes wines without added sulfites or synthetic preservatives while encouraging biodiversity in its vineyard.
Lots of these wines can be found in your local grocery store or liquor store – and even amazon!
In this post, we went over the most important things you need to know about drinking wine when living gluten free. Hopefully this post will give you some useful information as to what is safe to drink and not drink! Just because you’re living GF doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy drinks out with your friends and family!
This post is intended only for responsible adults of legal drinking age in the United States of America [21 years old or older]
You may also like [10 of the Best Gluten Free Beers]
Sources –Beyond Celiac, Very Well Fit