Non-alcoholic wines are an increasingly popular beverage choice. For elegant receptions and informal gatherings, this drink will certainly delight the palates of those who, for various reasons, do not wish to consume alcohol. How is non-alcoholic wine made? Are non-alcoholic wines tasty? How should non-alcoholic wine be served?
Non-alcoholic wine for every occasion
In stores, among a wide range of alcoholic beverages, alcohol-free drinks, including non-alcoholic wines, are now standard. Not long ago, they tasted no different from ordinary grape juices. However, the huge demand for good non-alcoholic wines has meant that producers have begun to put as much effort into preparing them as they do into traditional wines.
It's worth giving them a chance and trying the best non-alcoholic wines. Knowing the 5 most important facts about them makes it easy to choose from the available options.
Non-alcoholic wine – production process
What distinguishes the best non-alcoholic wines is the production process. Initially, traditional alcoholic wine is made – fermentation occurs, and all necessary processes take place, releasing aromas and flavours from the grapes. In the next step, the beverage undergoes a dealcoholisation process. This can be done in various ways. The most popular ones are:
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Vacuum distillation.
Wine has a lower evaporation temperature than water. However, by heating the beverage to 70 degrees Celsius, so that the alcohol could be completely evaporated quickly, the producer would lose many flavour qualities and valuable nutrients. The solution to this is vacuum distillation. Under pressure, ethanol evaporates at a lower temperature, even 30-50 degrees Celsius, so in special chambers, the pressure is increased, and then the beverage is heated to the desired value. However, this technique is flawed, as despite the low temperature, it removes many desirable aromatic notes from the beverage.
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Reverse osmosis
Vacuum distillation has a huge disadvantage - even the best wines lose many of their flavour qualities, despite the lower evaporation temperature. The solution is the process of dealcoholising wine by reverse osmosis. It involves passing the beverage through a special membrane that separates water with alcohol from the rest of the ingredients. Then, only this part is subjected to evaporation. After removing the alcohol, the water is combined with what was separated at the beginning.
Spinning cone method
An innovative method for producing good non-alcoholic wine is the so-called spinning cone. Here, wine goes into columns that move very quickly around their own axis. Thanks to centrifugal force, the beverage adheres to the walls. Then, nitrogen is introduced, which captures aromatic molecules that are separated from the rest and transferred to a separate tank. The remaining water with alcohol is – as in previous methods – heated until all "alcohol" evaporates. Finally, everything – except the alcohol – is recombined.
Non-alcoholic wines produced using the second and third methods are those that delight with their taste and aroma, and also contain tannins and antioxidants.
Non-alcoholic wines - diversity
Just like their alcoholic counterparts, non-alcoholic wines impress with their diversity. Nowadays, you can buy good non-alcoholic white, red, rosé, green, sparkling, sweet, and dry wines. Thanks to enormous consumer demand, producers are vying to create non-alcoholic equivalents of their best wine varieties.
The best non-alcoholic wines are appreciated by connoisseurs. Recognised gourmets also reach for them. It's worth finding your favourite by trying different ones from the best non-alcoholic wines available on the market.
Non-alcoholic wine - calories
What certainly distinguishes non-alcoholic wines from alcoholic ones is their very low caloric content. A traditional wine glass, into which approximately 150-200 ml is poured, has only 30-40 kcal.
Additionally, the best non-alcoholic wines, i.e., those produced using the spinning cone method or reverse osmosis, contain valuable polyphenols whose health benefits are not cannibalized by the alcohol content. Finally, and importantly for those on a diet, the absence of alcohol is a significant factor that allows one to enjoy the full bouquet of wine flavours without toxic effects and side effects.
Non-alcoholic wine - serving
Good non-alcoholic wines should be served just like their alcoholic counterparts. Attention to temperature is crucial here – 8-12 degrees Celsius for white wines and 13-18 degrees Celsius for red wines will ensure they release more flavour. They can be served in glasses or goblets.
It's worth serving red non-alcoholic wines in a decanter, which will aerate them and make them taste even better. White non-alcoholic wines or prosecco can also be served with additions, creating non-alcoholic versions of traditional wine drinks.
Non-alcoholic wine - availability
Nowadays, non-alcoholic wines are available in almost every major grocery store. When choosing them, you don't necessarily have to be guided by price – more expensive ones are not always tastier! Wine specialists claim that it is currently easier to find better non-alcoholic white and sparkling wines than red ones. Given the current trend, however, this is probably only a matter of time.