What is Non Alcoholic Wine?

Non alcoholic wine is taking the world by storm. Whether you’re trying to cut down on your alcohol consumption, or are just sober curious, there are a number of reasons why you might want to try out this delicious, health-boosting beverage. But what is it exactly, and how does it compare to regular wine?

The first thing to understand is that there are two main types of non alcoholic wine. Some, like the popular Acid League wines, are made to resemble traditional wine in flavour and texture but never contain any ethanol. The majority, however, are dealcoholized wines, which begin life as fermented grape juice and then undergo a process to remove any alcoholic content.

The challenge is to pull out the alcoholic component without adversely impacting mouthfeel, balance, typicity and quality. This is particularly tricky for certain wine styles, such as sparkling wine and red wine, where the alcohol is a key element of the flavour profile. Thankfully, thanks to some clever technological advances, the best non-alcoholic wine producers are now making wines that taste as close to the original as possible.

In 2019, BevZero processed under 20,000 gallons of wine for dealcoholization, but this is set to double by 2022. Their process involves a combination of reverse osmosis and vacuum distillation. The former filters the wine to separate out the alcohol, while the latter distills the wine to remove it, with the remaining components recombined to produce a drinkable result.

It’s not just wine that benefits from this process, either. Other products, including instant coffee, dairy milk and herbal teas, can also be dealt with using this dealcoholization process. This makes it a versatile technology that is used across a range of industries.

There are numerous reasons to start drinking non alcoholic wine, from helping you sleep better to lowering your risk of heart disease. It’s also a great way to help manage your blood sugar levels, which can reduce your need for medication for diabetes. Drinking non alcoholic wine also helps to combat the common cold, as it contains antioxidants that boost your immune system and fight off viruses and bacteria.

So, with this in mind, why not give it a go? You might just be surprised at how good it tastes! Just remember, if you’re not sure about your tolerance level, always start with low-proof drinks to ensure it won’t upset your stomach. Cheers!