Revolution or treason? – In France they produce the first wine without alcohol! –

In the vineyards of Bordeaux, where some of the most expensive wines in the world come from, the first alcohol-free wine has recently been produced.

Some French wine lovers might even call it treason.

Although in the past the winemakers of the famous French wines would have preferred to set fire to their vineyards rather than submit to such a dishonor, now they produce one label after another.

“When we started a few years ago experimenting with creating an alcohol-free wine, what came out was rubbish,” says Bordeaux oenologist Frédéric Brochet, who helped create the Moderato range of alcohol-free wines.

In recent times, however, technology has significantly helped to achieve this goal, with the result that today we are getting closer and closer to what is characterized “revolution in the world of wine”.

Bordeaux is now home to the first winery to produce exclusively alcohol-free wines, reflecting a shift in the perception that wine is not like the beer it can sell under the label “no alcohol”.

“We only opened four weeks ago and already we have vintners from the area coming to taste the wine and learn more about it,” says Alexandre Kettaneh, who owns Les Belles Grappes with his wife Anne.

But as it seems, the idea is good and experienced French winemakers do not want to lose this innovation. They want to be part of it, especially at a time when well-known French wine producers are seeing their sales decline.

Wine consumption is reduced

Even in France consumption continues to shrink while the large Chinese market no longer shows the same interest. On the other hand, it is the political and economic decisions that are causing confusion after Trump’s intentions to impose higher tariffs on European products.

It is no coincidence that lately award-winning vineyards across France are being forced to reduce production or even close.

But the bigger issue is that consumption habits, especially among young people, have changed significantly.

Supermarkets now give more space to beer than to wine as it is preferred by most 20-somethings.

The culture of enjoying a good wine is fading and young people are much more health conscious and less prone to addiction than older generations.

The non-alcoholic lifestyle is spreading rapidly with the alcohol-free beer market currently accounting for 10% of the market in France and 25% in Spain.

“Of course, a non-alcoholic wine, especially if it is red, cannot offer the same enjoyment experience as a traditional fine wine, as we cannot reproduce the full sensation,” says Moderato’s Fabien Marchand-Cassagne.

“But what you will get is an authentic sip of a wine rich in tannins and fruit in an excellent flavor balance.”

At the Clos De Bouard estate near Saint-Emilion, a third of sales are now from two – and soon to be three – brands of still wines. Owner Coralie de Bouard first saw the potential when she was asked in 2019 to develop a non-alcoholic wine for the Qatari owners of the PSG soccer team.

Proponents of alcohol-free wine largely believe it allows non-drinkers – who used to feel excluded – to be able to enjoy something very close to wine.

Source: huffingtonpost

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