Amen, Alcohol-Free Wine With a Fantastic Flavour Profile

The low-alcohol and no-alcohol beverage industries are seeing unprecedented growth and innovation.

It’s no secret that producers are finding ways to craft premium alternatives without compromising authenticity and quality.

But how do you make alcohol-free wines while ensuring the flavour profile is as close to the regular wine as possible?

Refined Society spoke to German wine producer Leitz about its alcohol-free Eins-Zwei-Zero Sparkling Rosé – the first alcohol-free wine to be carried by the LCBO — and it turns out the winemaking process isn’t really that different.

The grapes are grown, pressed and fermented into wine, but then dealcoholized using a process called vacuum distillation – where the boiling point of alcohol can be reduced quite a bit.

“The wine is warmed for about a minute and cooled right back down, which helps to preserve the wine’s aromas and avoid jammy or cooked fruit aromas that can be typical in lots of other alcohol-free wines,” says Tobias Fiebrandt, Leitz brand ambassador.

They’ve seen a demand for their product, as people look for an alternative if they can’t drink for any number of reasons such as focusing on healthier alternatives or because they are the designated driver for the evening.

“Our goal was to create a product that helps people enjoy a grown-up drink, that doesn’t contain alcohol,” says Fiebrandt.  “This wine is for people who want to have a glass (that doesn’t look like pop) at home in the backyard or out while enjoying a socially distanced evening with friends. We want them to know they don’t need to be excluded from the party just because they’re the driver.”