One of the fastest-growing markets in the world of wine isn’t technically wine at all. But the sale of dealcoholized wine rose some 43% in the first half of 2021 according to NielsenIQ, and they say that “Between August 2021 and August 2022, total dollar sales of non-alcoholic drinks in the US stood at $395 million, showing a year-on-year growth of +20.6%
If you or some of your guests coming to celebrate the holidays are non-drinkers or perhaps designated drivers, there are some good wine options that improve greatly on the traditional holiday sparkling cider. In particular, alcohol-free wines from a New Zealand producer called Giesen 0% are worth the attention of wine lovers.
Giesen 0% offers a range of five different award-winning zero-alcohol wines: Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, and Premium Red. In addition to being alcohol-free, Giesen 0% wines are low in calories, weighing in at around 19-27 calories per 5 oz. serving, depending on the variety of wine.
The Giesen 0% wines are dealcoholized. How do they do it? The world’s first zero-alcohol Sauvignon Blanc, for example, starts out as regular, full-strength wine which has gone through the entire vinification process, including fermentation, aging, etc. During the dealcoholization process the wine is filtered down through levels of cones via spinning-cone technology (which is popular in the perfume industry) wherein smaller particles rise to the top and heavier particles drop to the bottom – a simple matter of gravity and centrifugal force. During this process the wine is split, according to the winemakers, into three components: aroma, alcohol and body. After the alcohol is removed, “We recombine aroma and body to recreate the same great taste without the alcohol,” they explain.
I sampled Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand in a non-blind tasting and was impressed by this dry but thirst-quenching Kiwi sipper. In the glass, the herbal aromas are spot-on New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. And on the tongue there are traditional Sauvignon Blanc citrus flavors of grapefruit, lime and passionfruit, as well as herbal notes. I honestly don’t think I could have pegged Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc as a zero-alcohol wine in a blind tasting, although the mouthfeel might be a tad lighter than normal. This Sauvignon Blanc would pair nicely with lighter chicken and pork dishes, salads, and chevre.
As I said at the outset, Giesen 0% wines would make a terrific addition to your holiday celebrations and good gifts for wine lovers who might be cutting back on drinking or taking a break after the holidays. Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé are available throughout Utah at Whole Foods Market. The 0% Riesling, Pinot Grigio, and Premium Red Blend are not available in Utah stores yet but can be purchased online at Boisson.co (non-alcoholic specialty shop).
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THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER.
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Originally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.
