Our Owner & Founder
Frances Gonzalez, a long-time vegan and wine expert, began Vegan Wines based on her own struggles finding and selecting wine that was 100% free of animal products.
The idea for Vegan Wines was born in France. While on a wine tasting tour, Frances heard her guide say the words “egg whites” and her ears perked up. For the first time, she learned that animal products are frequently involved in winemaking, particularly during the fertilization and fining processes, which means the end product isn’t vegan.
Frances is the Founder and President of Vegan Wines, a completely vegan-friendly wine club, and Despacito Distributors, a plant-based wine distribution company.
Frances has acquired nuanced expertise and made many connections in the wine industry through her work building these two companies. Her background, however, delves deeper than entrepreneurship. She is also an active member of Women of the Vine & Spirits, an organization that fosters a supportive environment for females in the alcoholic beverage industry. Frances also has extensive experience in the vegan and plant-based market. She has sponsored conferences like the Plant Based World Expo and founded VegFest Puerto Rico, a nonprofit established in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Having been routinely frustrated when trying to order vegan wine in restaurants or locate animal-friendly bottles in shops, Frances now seeks to make the wine selection process easier for everybody – vegans, environmentally conscious wine lovers, and those seeking more transparency when it comes to what they’re drinking.
Today, Frances travels to wineries around the world to taste and select wine for our wine clubs, ensuring that the winemaking methods are completely free from animal products before asking businesses to partner with Vegan Wines.
According to Frances, “Vegan Wines is not just about wine. It’s about knowing exactly what you’re drinking. During my tastings, I talk with the owner, wine tasting manager, or winemaker. I go directly to the source to verify that the wine is vegan from the soil to the fining and filtering processes. I want our customers to feel confident knowing what’s in their wine.”
