Non-alcoholic wine: how is it made and does it really taste like wine?

Non-alcoholic wine has become increasingly popular in recent years. More and more people are choosing to drink less alcohol but still want to enjoy a good glass of wine at a dinner, party, or gathering.

But how do you actually make wine without alcohol? And perhaps more importantly: does non-alcoholic wine really taste like regular wine?

The short answer: increasingly better, but it's not exactly the same. And that's perfectly fine.

How is non-alcoholic wine made?

Non-alcoholic wine starts as regular wine. First, the grapes are fermented in the normal way, producing alcohol. Only then is the alcohol removed from the wine.

Various techniques are used for this. Two important methods are vacuum distillation and spinning cone.

Vacuum distillation

In vacuum distillation, the pressure is reduced, causing alcohol to evaporate at a much lower temperature than normal.

This is important because high temperatures can cause the delicate aromas of wine to be lost.

Spinning cone

Another technique is the so-called spinning cone column. Here, the wine is very carefully separated into different components in a special installation.

First, volatile aromas are extracted from the wine and kept separate. Then the alcohol is removed. After that, the aromas are added back to the dealcoholized wine.

This way, the winemaker tries to preserve as much of the wine's original character as possible.

Why does non-alcoholic wine taste different?

This is perhaps the most interesting part.

Alcohol does much more than just provide the alcohol percentage.

Alcohol contributes to:

• the full mouthfeel;
• the body of the wine;
• the warmth and roundness;
• the retention and release of aromas;
• the balance between sweet, sour, and bitter.

When you remove the alcohol, the structure of the wine automatically changes as well.

A non-alcoholic wine can therefore come across as somewhat lighter, fresher, or fruitier than the original wine.

That doesn't mean it's less tasty. It mainly means you have to judge it differently.

Is non-alcoholic wine actually wine?

Yes, but with an important nuance.

The wine is first made in the normal way and then de-alcoholized. In European regulations, wine from which the alcohol has been removed is referred to as de-alcoholized wine when the alcohol content is a maximum of 0.5% vol.; completely non-alcoholic variants can be around 0.0%.

Therefore, always check the label for the actual alcohol percentage. "Non-alcoholic" does not automatically mean that there is absolutely no alcohol present.

Does non-alcoholic wine really taste like wine?

A good non-alcoholic wine can come surprisingly close to regular wine, but don't expect exactly the same experience.

Especially with cheap non-alcoholic wines, the difference can be clearly noticeable. They can come across as somewhat sweet, thin, or simple.

With better non-alcoholic wines, much more attention is paid to aroma, acidity, structure, and balance.

Therefore, the quality of the original wine and the technique used to remove the alcohol make a big difference.

And that brings us to an important point:

Not every non-alcoholic wine is the same

Just like with regular wine, there are big differences in quality.

A non-alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or rosé can have a very different character. Moreover, the method used to remove the alcohol can have a great influence on the final result.

My advice: don't just look at "0.0%" on the label, but especially at the quality of the wine that preceded it.

Oddbird: non-alcoholic wine from Sweden

A good example is Oddbird. This Swedish winery was founded on the idea that you can enjoy a good wine even without alcohol.

Oddbird works with wines that are first made in the traditional way. Then the alcohol is carefully removed, with as much of the original aromas and character as possible being preserved.

The result is an assortment that includes non-alcoholic sparkling wine, rosé, white wine, and red wine.

View Oddbird's non-alcoholic wines

That also makes Oddbird interesting for people who normally drink wine but prefer not to drink alcohol at certain times.

Kolonne Null: German precision without alcohol

Another interesting name in the world of non-alcoholic wine is Kolonne Null, a Berlin winery founded in 2018. The brand collaborates with selected wineries from Germany, France, and Spain, among others, carefully selecting the base wines. In their own laboratory in Berlin, the wines are then gently dealcoholized.

Kolonne Null uses vacuum distillation at a temperature of approximately 30 °C for this. Volatile aromas are also recovered, ensuring that as much of the wine's original character as possible is retained. The range now extends from Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and rosé to sparkling wines and red wine. Many of the wines are also organically certified.

What's great about Kolonne Null: they don't simply try to make a non-alcoholic drink but start with a good wine and try to preserve the character of that wine. As a result, the different grape varieties and wine styles are recognizable even without alcohol. Discover Kolonne Null's non-alcoholic wines.

When is non-alcoholic wine a good choice?

Actually, there are many moments when non-alcoholic wine is an excellent choice.

If you still need to drive
You can still socialize and enjoy the gathering or dinner.

During pregnancy
Those who want to avoid alcohol completely can choose a 0.0% variant. Always check the alcohol percentage on the label.

After sports or during an active day
You might want something festive to drink, but without alcohol.

At dinner
A good non-alcoholic wine can also be used as a wine-food pairing.

At a party
This way, guests who don't drink alcohol can still join in with a festive glass.

And my honest judgment?

If you're used to good wine, you'll probably notice that non-alcoholic wine doesn't taste exactly the same as wine with alcohol.

But that doesn't have to be the goal at all.

The better non-alcoholic wines today are fresh, aromatic, gastronomic, and surprisingly complex. And they offer something that regular wine cannot: you can enjoy a glass of wine without the effects of alcohol.

So: does non-alcoholic wine taste the same as regular wine? No.

Can a good non-alcoholic wine be tasty? Absolutely.

And that's precisely what makes it worthwhile to try different styles and producers.

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Non-alcoholic wine & food pairing

Even without alcohol, you can still pair wine with food.

For example, a crisp non-alcoholic white wine pairs well with fish, sushi, salads, and shellfish. A non-alcoholic rosé is delicious with salads, light dishes, and appetizers, while a non-alcoholic red wine can complement pasta, pizza, and spicy dishes.

A sparkling non-alcoholic wine is, of course, perfect as an aperitif or with a festive dinner.