Is wine gluten free?

Red wine is made from grape juice that has been fermented and aged and as a result is naturally gluten free. Whether it comes from France, Spain, Chile or Australia or made from Pinot Noir, Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, red wine should be safe for coeliacs and those with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity to drink – which is to say its gluten content is below an accepted (in many countries) level of 20 parts per million (ppm).

What goes for red wine goes for all types of wine. Champagnes and other fizz, including Prosecco and Cava, along with white wine, rosé wine and fortified wines such as Port and Sherry are all simply fermented grape juice and so are naturally gluten free. However, there is one type of wine you should always watch out for – wine cooler drinks and fruit-flavoured wines. These use wine as a base but add extra flavourings and colourings. While such additives won’t necessarily contain gluten, you can’t guarantee they won’t, either. Always remember to read the label.

Anyone on a gluten-free diet can enjoy almost any brand of wine without worry. Whether it’s a classic Spanish red from Rioja, an aged French Bordeaux, a glass of sparkling Italian Prosecco, a fruity New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a dry French Chardonnay, or a delicate rosé from Provence, wine is naturally gluten free. If you want to be ultra-sure, be aware of the aforementioned cross-contamination issues and check for a gluten-free certification or with the winemaker for confirmation. If you are unlucky enough to have a negative reaction to a certain brand of wine, just move on to something different. There’s a whole world of gluten-free wines out there just waiting for you to try!