January is one of the times when non-alcoholic wines are at their peak. This month, sales of wine without alcohol increase dramatically as consumers seek out drinking alternatives while reducing their alcohol intake after the holiday season.
In fact, during Dry January in 2022, non-alcoholic wine sales increased by 40% in countries like the UK. Additionally, a lot of people who experience non-alcoholic wine for the first time in January continue to do so once the month is finished. As a result, Dry January is contributing to the long-term growth of the popularity of wine without alcohol.
What is low alcohol and non-alcoholic wines?
In Australia, low alcohol is a beverage that contain less than 1.15% of alcohol per volume. And wine is defined as having at least 4.5% of alcohol, meaning that ‘low alcohol wine’ is not really a correct term to be employed. In practice, low alcohol wines are usually non-alcoholic beverages, that present less than 0.5% alcohol and will not cause intoxication. Legislation also allows these beverages to be labelled as zero alcohol or no alcohol. In FAB’s case, we understand that certain circumstances and lifestyles do not agree with any alcohol content being present in a drink. So, we offer a selection of non-alcoholic beverages that are suitable for all. These beverages have been produced with care by producers who have been traditionally making wines and chose to offer an option of zero alcohol.
Why is this category getting so popular?
A glass of wine without alcohol is becoming more and more popular, due to consumers trying to cut back on alcohol, wanting to try something new, or wanting a healthier option.
Non-alcoholic wines are becoming a big deal, both around the world and here in Australia. Fresh data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis shows the global market for no/low-alcohol category surpassed USD 11 billion in 2022, with growth rates of over 7% across 10 key global markets: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the US.
In Australia, sales of non-alcoholic wine have gone up by more than 15% in 2023. It’s still a small part of the wine market, but it’s growing fast, and more wineries are offering their own alcohol-free options.
How are wines made without alcohol?
It's difficult to make wine without alcohol. The objective is to preserve the wine's flavour while removing the alcohol. Here are some methods used by producers:
1. Vacuum Distillation: This method simply uses a vacuum to reduce pressure, allowing the alcohol to evaporate at a lower temperature and maintaining the same flavour.
2. Reverse Osmosis: In essence, they concentrate the remaining wine to restore its flavour after filtering out the alcohol.
3. Spinning Cone Column: This more sophisticated technique uses revolving cones to separate the alcohol from the rest of the wine while heating it to low temperatures, maintaining a largely consistent flavour.
What makes non-alcoholic wines popular?
• Healthy Options: Non-alcoholic wines are an excellent way to enjoy wine without the calories or hangover, and more people are attempting to be healthier.
• Mindful Drinking: Many people are paying closer attention to how much alcohol they consume. This trend is well suited to non-alcoholic wines, which enable consumers to experience wine without the alcohol.
• Better selections: Non-alcoholic wines used to not always taste good, but these days there are many more selections, and the quality has really improved. Reds, whites, and even sparkling wines without alcohol are available.
What’s next for non-alcoholic wines?
With more wineries getting into the game and better options available, it’s easy to see why more people are choosing alcohol-free wines. Whether it’s for Dry January or just as part of a healthier lifestyle, non-alcoholic wines are a great way to enjoy the wine experience without the alcohol.
As the trend for mindful drinking continues to grow, we can expect non-alcoholic wines to become an even bigger part of the wine market. So, if you haven’t already, maybe it’s time to give them a try. You can find our carefully selected options of no and low alcohol here.
