Non-Alcoholic Wines

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To many people, the very idea of alcohol-free wine seems faintly ridiculous. Take away the booze, many wine buffs argue, and you take away the fun.

But while plenty of people remain sceptical, increasing numbers of wine enthusiasts are starting to accept that the concept may not be entirely laughable and concerns over alcohol units and calorie control are swaying more and more people towards alcohol free white and red wines.

The concept of booze-free wine is now starting to be taken seriously among wine producers and quality and choice is growing in line with the increased public demand. Some major white and red wine producers are now beginning to deliver alcohol free wines alongside their traditional lines and are being rewarded with sales figures that are growing year on year.

So, aside from the ability to avoid a potentially fuzzy head the next day, what are the benefits of opting for a booze-free bottle of red wine?

For starters, there’s the calorie count. For those with an eye on their daily intake, just a couple of glasses of standard wine can tip the scales the wrong way, while alcohol-free versions can be far less guilt inducing.

For example, while a four-ounce glass of Cabernet Sauvignon has around 90-100 calories, the same size glass of alcohol free red wine may have a calorie count of just 15 or 20 cals. Whilst that’s good news for weight watchers, of course, it may not be enough to convince the rest of the wine-drinking world.

However, there’s good news too for those who are more interested in their overall health than simply in their waistline. The health benefits of drinking a glass or so of red wine a day have been much vaunted and those who have opted for a reduced alcohol lifestyle can take heart in the knowledge that alcohol-free red wine is generally just as rich in health-boosting antioxidants as its boozier cousins.

The skin of the grape is the richest source of these powerful antioxidants and, where the same grapes are used, the wines will have the same health boosting properties. And of course, while medics stress that drinking red wine in excess will counteract any potential health benefits, booze-free red wine can be drunk to your heart’s content. Quite literally.

Much of the excited chatter about red wine’s health-boosting properties has revolved around resveratrol – a compound found in red wine that has been shown to have postive effects on everything from cardiovascular performance to stroke prevention. This compound is generally still to be found in alcohol-free red wine and drinkers can glug away safe in the knowledge that they’re keeping a clear head as well as a spick and span cardiovascular system.

But while the health lobby is well and truly backing the trend towards alcohol-free wine, is it really going to cut the mustard with those wine drinkers who are accustomed to drinking the ‘real thing’? Whilst it would be hard to argue that booze-free bottles of red wine can rank up there with the world’s great wines, nor can it any longer be dismissed as glorified grape juice. Non-alcoholic wine lacks the kick of a bolshy red, many wine aficionados argue, and it doesn’t boast the sense of indulgence that comes with settling down with a relaxing glass of ‘real’ wine.

There are plenty of drinkers who swear they would rather opt for a straightforward fruit juice or mineral water than mess around with alcohol-free wine, and there are increasing options out there that offer something that at least comes close to the experience of drinking a good glass of standard wine: from avid wine buffs on designated driver duty to mums-to-be, those who like a glass can find some pleasant booze-free surprises on today’s supermarket shelves.

Non-alcoholic wine is initially made in the same way as standard wine, with the alcohol being removed at the later stages – after the initial fermentation. As such, when made well it is far more flavourful, complex and, well, ‘wine-like’ than a glass of grape juice.

Perhaps somewhat predictably, the United States was one of the first countries to wholeheartedly embrace the concept of alcohol-free wines and the concept has been a roaring success Stateside. In 2009, one company alone (Ariel Vineyards) sold well over a million bottles of non-alcoholic wine. The UK has been quick to follow suit and there are numerous artesan wine producers making alcohol-free versions of red wine, as well as stores (both online and high street) selling bottles imported from around the world.

Even with this growing presence in the wine world, though, some confusion remains as to what the term ‘alcohol-free’ actually means.

Whilst almost all bottles of non-alcoholic wine retain a tiny amount of alcohol, in the UK a wine cannot be more than 0.5 per cent alcohol in order to be classed as non-alcoholic. Low-alcohol wines, on the other hand, may contain up to 1.2 per cent alcohol. Whether you choose to go ultra-low or entirely non-alcohol, you may well find that the world of alcohol free wine is worth exploring.

Image by chrislee-cm.