The alcohol-free wine is making waves in the beverage industry, although it has taken a little longer to catch on than spirits and non-alcoholic aperitifs. The hesitation came mainly from the lack of body and aroma of many wines in the past. However, today there are remarkable non-alcoholic wines whose taste has improved thanks to advances in technology. Cellars likeSanzalc in Lille offer a selection of these alcohol-free wines, allowing customers to explore and appreciate the world of alcohol-free wine. In fact, blind taste tests have repeatedly been conducted and have yielded increasingly positive results, proving that these wines can compete with their alcoholic counterparts in terms of flavor and enjoyment.
It is important to distinguish between alcohol-free and dealcoholized wines. Alcohol-free wines are made without fermenting the grapes and tend to be sweeter. In contrast, dealcoholized wines follow the same process as alcoholic wines, but the alcohol is removed after fermentation. This process helps preserve the flavors and characteristics of the wine, giving consumers the experience of drinking wine without the effects of alcohol or sugar. As for calories, the dealcoholized wine is 7 to 10 times less caloric than alcoholic wine, here too people concerned about their health will quickly know how to make their choice!
A little history around non-alcoholic wine
The history of alcohol-free wine production is relatively recent compared to traditional winemaking. While the first known fermentation of grapes to produce wine dates back more than 8,000 years, attempts to produce alcohol-free wine only began recently. Today, alcohol-free wine producers use modern technology to create alcohol-free wine. This development is due to changes in drinking habits, with younger generations buying less alcohol and more and more people wanting to drink less or abstain completely.
The wine dealcoholization process has evolved over time, with different methods. In the 19th century, a New Jersey dentist pasteurized grape juice to make a non-alcoholic "wine" for religious purposes. In Germany, a winemaker has developed a vacuum distillation method that lowers the boiling point of alcohol, resulting in a non-alcoholic drink with the same flavor and pleasure as wine. In the 1980s, rotating cone columns were developed in Australia, allowing the removal of volatile compounds, including alcohol, from liquids.
Alcohol-free wine has benefited from technological advances
These technological advances have brought significant improvements in the production of alcohol-free wines. They have made it possible to reduce the alcohol content of wines, particularly in warm regions where the production of low-alcohol wines can be difficult. As a result, consumers now have access to alcohol-free wines with reduced alcohol content, or even completely alcohol-free options. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for those who want to enjoy the taste and experience of wine without the effects of alcohol.
With the growing demand for healthier and more mindful drinking options, alcohol-free wine is becoming a popular choice among consumers. Improvements in taste and quality have made it a viable alternative for those who want to enjoy a glass of wine without worrying about the effects of alcohol. So why not raise a glass of non-alcoholic wine and toast to a new era of guilt-free pleasure?
Cheers! 🍷
