The non-alcoholic category is not going anywhere. As drinkers consider to moderate their consumptions, more and more brands are entering the category, offering high-quality alternatives to beers, wines, spirits, and ready-to-drink cans.
The no- and low-alcohol category has a market value of just under US$10 Billion globally, according to the IWSR Global No- and Low-Alcohol Strategic Study 2022, and continues to grow as new entrants join the category.
With so many new products on the market, what bottles should you have your eyes on? Here are some of the category’s most exciting new bottlings.
Null Wines just released a new Gruner blend — salty, floral, aromatic and green.
Studio Null’s Gruner Weiss
Founded by friends Catherine Diao and Dorothy Munholland, Studio Null does an excellent job of replicating the craft and story of small producer wines in a non-alcoholic format. They launched two years back with a core range of whites and reds and are continuously adding new products to their portfolio. Next up? A bright, highly aromatic Grüner Weiss, made with a blend of Grüner Veltliner balanced with Gelber Muskateller.
Also in their portfolio: a toned, crisp, Alsatian-ish white made with a blend of pinot gris and pinot blanc, and an excellent juicy carbonic red.
Edenvale’s Expedition Series
Edenvale has ruled the non-alcoholic market in Australia as the top-selling brand, and the bottles are finally starting to trickle over to North America. Their selection is vast, from entry-level (read: affordable) bottlings of reds, whites, and rose to ‘grand cru’ bottlings of higher-end Shiraz and Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends. They also offer tiny cans and small-size bottlings of their best-selling non alcoholic wines.
The newer Expedition Series journeys through Spain, bottling a Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon, Verdejo-Sauvignon Blanc, and a sparkling Cava-style wine. The sparkling is made with all Macabeo, a grape traditionally blended with Parellada or Xarel-lo to make Catalan Cava. It’s bone dry and loaded with toasted apple, brioche, and fennel, with high carbonation and crisp bubbles.
Domaine Pierre Chavin
Domaines Pierre Chavin — a completely non-alcoholic winery — was founded ten years ago in France by Taittinger vet Mathilde Boulachin, long before the non-alcoholic boom had expanded across the globe. Her newest addition to the brand is Chavin, a line of elegant, wine-like bottlings with all the finesse of classic French wines.
The Chardonnay has all the richness and depth of say, a cremant from Jura, but without any of the alcohol content. There’s a non-alcoholic Chardonnay — pale yellow and mineral-driven, with notes of lemon and apple. For parties, Boulachin’s Perle line from Pierre Chavin includes neon-hued sparkling wines (including rose and blue options) that feel festive on a table.