Is wine gluten free?

Sources disagree. The publishers we cite give different answers for wine; both sides are shown below, in their own words. Packaged foods differ, so check the label of the product you buy.

What the sources tell us

Wine is fermented from grapes, and the National Celiac Association says it does not contain gluten. The Celiac Disease Foundation says wine is considered gluten-free to the FDA standard of less than 20 parts per million.[5][1]

The Gluten Intolerance Group gives a softer answer: not a clear yes or no, but probably or usually. Its reason is that no industry-wide testing proves wine is always gluten-free, and that like any agricultural product, wine can face a risk of cross-contact with gluten from the vineyard to the bottle.[2]

The group walks through the steps of winemaking. Some vineyards have reintroduced grains such as wheat and barley, which raises the risk at harvest. Fining agents such as egg whites, bentonite clay and gelatin are gluten-free, and using wheat gluten for fining is not common practice. Some cooperages once sealed oak barrels with a flour-based paste, but paraffin or barrel wax is more common now, and many wines are aged in stainless steel.[2]

Because wine is fermented, not distilled, the group says fermentation will not remove any traces of gluten that were present before it. Still, it expects any gluten present to be far below the FDA threshold of 20 ppm, and it suggests reading the label or the winery website for details on its process.[2]

Wine coolers are a separate case. The National Celiac Association warns that wine coolers often contain barley malt, and the Gluten Intolerance Group says many wine coolers are not gluten-free.[5][2]

Where the sources disagree

Depends on the product

"Is wine gluten-free? ... is not a clear “yes” or “no , ” but more like “ probably” or “ usually. ”"

Gluten Intolerance Group · Depends · gluten.org/2021/02/08/is-wine-gluten-free · fetched 2026-10-23

Naturally gluten-free

"Wine is considered gluten-free to the FDA standard of less than 20 parts per million of gluten."

Celiac Disease Foundation · Naturally gluten-free · celiac.org/gluten-free-living/gluten-free-foods · fetched 2026-10-23

"Yes, wine should be ok on the gluten-free diet. Wine is fermented from grapes and does not contain gluten."

National Celiac Association · Naturally gluten-free · nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/is-wine-ok-on-the-gluten-free-diet · fetched 2026-10-23

"Some fermented alcohols are gluten free (e.g. wine, true hard cider, and labeled gluten-free beer made without barley malt)"

National Celiac Association · Naturally gluten-free · nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/is-alcohol-made-from-grain-safe-for-celiacs · fetched 2026-10-23

"Fermented Alcohols That Are Considered Gluten Free 1 · Wine · True Hard Cider"

National Celiac Association · Naturally gluten-free · nationalceliac.org/alcohol-on-the-gluten-free-diet · fetched 2026-10-23

Certified gluten-free alternatives

Products on the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) list. Each links to its GFCO listing. A product counts as certified only when its package also carries the GFCO mark.

Not stated

Sources