As the move to a healthy lifestyle becomes the new normal, and people make the choice to moderate their alcohol intake, low and no-alcohol beverages are now a fast-growing segment of the market.
And it is not just health conscious millennials and Gen Z who are reaching for non-alcoholic alternatives... a wide segment of people still want to imagine they are sipping beer, an aperitif or spirit - without the baggage it comes with. So much so, that UK online supermarket Ocado reported that sales of non-alcoholic wine grew by 42% in 2018, a trend that is being replicated in the USA. And it's not just ‘regular’ folk who are opting out, a long list of celebrities are teetotal, for a variety of reasons. These include rocker Ryan Adams, actor Natalie Portman and comedian Sarah Silverman. Despite the growing popularity of alcohol-free drinks, most people don’t know much about them or how they are made. Let us walk you through how our range of alcohol removed wines are made, what the health benefits are and other little known facts. Six things you didn’t know about alcohol removed wine Want the lowdown on alcohol removed wine? Here it is!
1. It starts out life as normal wineAlcohol removed wine actually starts out as normal wine, with the alcohol - which gets removed later. So it isn't something developed in a laboratory - it is the real thing, just without the alcohol.
2. It is made from the same grapes as normal wine That means it is also made from the same grapes as normal wines. In fact we source all our grapes from select vineyards across South Eastern Australia, with a keen eye and nose to select grapes that display strong varietal definition.If you want something a little bit special, then you should sample the wines in our Premium Reserve range, which are made using the highest quality grapes, and carefully blended for a truly unique taste experience. On the shelf you will notice they also look a little fancier than our Classic range, but have the same low calories and alcohol content of less than 0.5%.
3. How the alcohol is removed Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty - how our wines are made. Our alcohol removed wines are produced using an alcohol extraction method called the Spinning Cone Column which removes the alcohol from the base wine through a process of evaporation. Thankfully the process means that the wine still retains its delicate aroma. This is the result of the wine being refined, purified and blended to return volume, sweetness and flavour.
4. It has health benefits When alcohol is removed from a wine, so too are large quantities of calories. If you are a calorie counter, you will know that a 285ml beer has around 102 calories, while a standard glass of red or white wine (175ml) could have 160 calories. If you like a large glass of wine (250ml), you will be taking on around 228 calories. That means an alcohol-free wine can help you lose weight and keep it off - though you do need to make sure you combine this with other healthy lifestyle habits, like regular exercise and a balanced diet.
5. It tastes great! Thanks to our unique process, our entire range of 11 alcohol removed wines taste just like the real thing. That means our Cabernet is robust and hearty, our Chardonnay is deliciously smooth, and our Rosé delicate, with delicious berry fruit flavours.
6. It is growing in popularity As we have seen, alcohol-free wines are growing in popularity - and people are switching for a variety of reasons. It makes sense for pregnant women, health-conscious consumers, and those abstaining from alcohol for medical or religious reasons - or if you are simply the designated driver for the night.
Australians are warming to alcohol removed wine The cultural shift to a healthy lifestyle is not going away, as millenials and preceding generations take their place in society - so expect to have more conversations about alcohol-free drinks with friends, family and colleagues. With our range of non-alcoholic wines you can still enjoy a glass, or more, and wake up the next day feeling 100% - so you can get up, get out and get active first thing. All our varietals are available online, or check availability at your local stockist. Selected products are available in the beverage aisle at these retailers:
