Who are we?
Despacito Distributors & Vegan Wines was founded by Frances Gonzalez in 2017 and focuses on providing high-quality vegan wines from the soil to the bottle. Vegan Wines is a subscription-based club and online wine shop that ships to over 41 states. Despacito Distributors is a wine importer and distribution company that supplies 100% plant-based wines to business owners in the hospitality industry. The wines for Vegan Wines are from Despacito Distributors both owned by Frances Gonzalez.
What problems does Vegan Wines address?
We are a soil advocate, environmentalist, and animal activist. We contribute to today’s global movement by creating transparency within veganism and the wine industry. We do this by providing a 100% plant-based carefully selected wine portfolio featuring wines produced by winemakers doing their part towards a positive global movement. Our wine portfolio is for vegans and non-vegans alike that seek great tasting wines produced within humanly and sustainable methods.
How does our product provide a plant-based solution to replace animal-based products ingredients?
You may be surprised that your favorite wine, even if certified organic, has been created with animal-derived ingredients.
Whether or not a wine is vegan or vegetarian friendly does not have to appear on the wine label, as there are no laws in place mandating what is written on the labels.
We visit every vineyard before partnership to research and verify that the winemakers are not using any animal by-products from the soil to the bottle. Veganic methods are not only possible in winemaking, but it is also the best way to grow healthy great grapes to produce great naturally vegan wines.
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.”
