Alcohol-free Wine

Alcohol-free still and sparkling wines are on trend. Even though they comprise one of the smallest segments in the wine scene as a niche product, demand and supply are steadily growing.

Facts

  • < 1%

    Market share

  • 15%

    Popularity

  • < 0,5 % vol.

    Alcohol

Do alcohol-free wines taste good?

Some respondents to a DWI-commissioned study by Nielsen said they did not even want to test alcohol-free wines, although they had never tried it before. The perception that alcohol-free wines do not have a good taste may well be justified in view of the earlier methods of production.

Production of non-alcoholic wines: then and now

Alcohol-free wines are created by removing alcohol from a finished wine. Previously this was done at elevated temperatures, which destroyed the aromas and lost the complexity of the fruit. Today the processes are designed to conserve the aromas, for example vacuum distillation, which work even at low temperatures. With such new production methods and the preservation of the aromas, the taste of the non-alcoholic products has improved significantly.

Compensating for the loss of alcohol

Aromatic varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc or Gewürztraminer are often used as base wines. They provide an intense aroma, which compensates for the lack of alcohol in the wine. In this context, residual sweetness is also often used to compensate. This is because alcohol is an important flavor carrier in wine, just like fat is in food. In the case of non-alcoholic sparkling wines, carbon dioxide is primarily used for compensation.

Why is the demand increasing?

Health-conscious enjoyment and a balanced lifestyle are much more present today than in the past, which further increases the demand for low- and no-alcohol alternatives. The fact that these products often contain significantly fewer calories also plays a role. Despite their niche status, alcohol-free wines are increasingly in demand. Those who want to consciously avoid alcohol but enjoy the flavours of wine, have found a satisfying alternative with alcohol-free still and sparkling wines.

News: New study on the Consumption of Alcohol-free Wines

What is the market share of dealcoholized sparkling wine ?

The market share of dealcoholized sparkling wine is 5%.

More recipe ideas

Tips from Chinese cuisine CHINA : Steamed scallops with vermicelli

German wines have a natural advantage when it comes to entering into perfect harmony with selected Asian dishes. With a lighter alcohol content, sometimes crisp acidity, moderate residual sweetness or soft tannins in the case of red grape varieties, they are a perfect match for a wide range of styles of Asian cuisine.

  • 4 Scallops
  • 1 Bündel Mung bean noodles
  • 2 Garlic
  • 12 Cloves
  • 2 EL Oil
  • 1,5 EL Chinese rice wine
  • 1 EL Light soy sauce
  • 1 Fresh chili
  • 2 Spring onions

PREPARATION

 

1. Clean the scallops, take out the scallop meat and marinate in the rice wine. Wash the shells.

 

2. Mash the garlic, mince the spring onions and the fresh chilli.

 

3. Heat a pan with oil over high heat, add garlic and fresh chilli, stir for 1-2 minutes, then put it into a bowl, add light soy sauce and mix well to make the garlic paste.

 

4. Place the vermicelli in a bowl and soak in warm water for 5 minutes until soft.

 

5. Take the scallop shells, arrange the vermicelli across these, and place a scallop on each.

 

6. Pour the garlic sauce evenly over the scallops.

 

7. Steam the scallops for 6 minutes.

 

8. Sprinkle with chopped spring onions.

  • Riesling (trocken)
  • Grauburgunder / Pinot Gris (trocken)
  • Riesling (halbtrocken & feinherb)
  • Grauburgunder / Pinot Gris (halbtrocken & feinherb)

Tips from Asian cuisine CHINA : Dumpling

German wines have a natural advantage when it comes to entering into perfect harmony with select Asian dishes. With a lower alcohol content, sometimes crisp acidity, moderate residual sweetness or soft tannins in red grape varieties, they are a perfect match for a variety of styles of Asian cuisine.

  • 500g Flour
  • 240ml Warm water
  • 400g Minced pork
  • 100g Celery
  • 1 TL Salt
  • 1/2 TL Sugar
  • 3 EL Light soy sauce
  • 1 EL Oyster sauce
  • 2 EL Oil
  • 100 ml Water

PREPARATION

 

MAKE DUMPLING WRAPPERS

Pour flour into a large bowl, add 240ml warm water and stir until well-combined.

Wash and dry hands. Dip in some dry flour and knead the dough until it becomes smooth.

Place the dough in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour.

 


MAKE DUMPLING STUFFING

Mix minced pork, salt, sugar, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, oil and 100ml water, stir well and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Chop the celery and pat dry with kitchen towel.

Take the pork out of the fridge, add chopped celery and stir well.

 


MAKE DUMPLINGS

Divide the dough into 8g pieces.

Rub the dough with a rolling pin and press into a circle about 7cm in diameter.

Take 15g stuffing and put it in the center of the dumpling wrapper. Fold the wrappers, use fingers to press the edges together.

 


BOIL DUMPLINGS

Fill in a clean pot with water, and bring to the boil. Pour in an appropriate amount of dumplings according to the size of the pot, and boil them until they rise to the surface.

Take out the dumplings and serve.

  • Pinot Blanc (trocken)
  • Pinot Blanc (halbtrocken & feinherb)
  • Silvaner (trocken)
  • Silvaner (halbtrocken & feinherb)
  • Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (trocken)
  • Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (halbtrocken & feinherb)

Tips from Japanese cuisine JAPAN : Sashimi

German wines have a natural advantage when it comes to entering into perfect harmony with selected Asian dishes. With a lighter alcohol content, sometimes crisp acidity, moderate residual sweetness or soft tannins in the case of red grape varieties, they are a perfect match for a wide range of styles of Asian cuisine.

  • 200g Tuna Sashimi
  • 200g-250g Squid sashimi
  • 8 Blätter Green Shiso
  • 10g Spice (garnish, white radish sprouts, etc.)
  • 10g Soy sauce, wasabi
  • 1,5 EL Soy sauce
  • 1 EL Red wine
  • 1 TL Olive oil

PREPARATION

 

1. Mix the sauce in a sandwich bag (ziplock). Put the tuna in it, remove any air, seal and leave it in the refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight.

 

2. Make a thin cut of about 2 mm on one surface of squid. Turn it over and place green shiso on the front. Roll up from the front and cut into pieces for easy eating.

 

3. Dry the tuna with a paper towel and cut into bite-sized pieces.

 

4. Serve tuna and squid with condiments, soy and wasabi.

  • Pinot Blanc (trocken)
  • Silvaner (trocken)
  • Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (trocken)
  • Pinot Blanc (halbtrocken & feinherb)
  • Silvaner (halbtrocken & feinherb)
  • Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (halbtrocken & feinherb)

Tips from Japanese cuisine JAPAN : Soy braised pork

German wines have a natural advantage when it comes to entering into perfect harmony with selected Asian dishes. With a lighter alcohol content, sometimes crisp acidity, moderate residual sweetness or soft tannins in the case of red grape varieties, they are a perfect match for a wide range of styles of Asian cuisine.

  • 1 kg Pork belly
  • 120 ml German white wine
  • 80 ml Soy sauce
  • 80 ml Honey
  • 50 ml Water
  • 4 cm Leek (green part)
  • 3 Ginger (thin slices)
  • 4 Boiled eggs
  • 1 Vegetables such as Chinese cabbage

PREPARATION

 

1. Cut the pork belly into large pieces to fit your pan.

Put the frying pan on high heat. When it gets hot, add pork belly, browning all sides, and then put in a saucepan. Add enough water to completely cover the meat.

Add ginger and leek and put on high heat.


2. When it starts to boil, turn the heat down low and boil for around 1.5 hours until the meat is soft (test with a fork). If it is drying out, add more water and let the dish boil slowly.


3. Let the soup cool down, then remove the meat and cut into blocks of about 4-5 cm square. (If you cool it down well at this stage, the meat will not become dry.)


4. Put meat and all the other seasoning except soy sauce, into a new pan (which fits the meat neatly) and heat. When it boils, turn the heat to low and cook for around 5 mins, then add soy sauce.


5. Place a plate, which fits snugly into the pan, directly on the meat (a drop lid is also acceptable). Boil for about 30 minutes.


6. Remove pork from the pan, put the boiled eggs and green vegetable to season them, and boil the broth to half the volume.

Put the meat back in and mix well with the broth. Put meat on a plate, add boiled egg or boiled green vegetables and pour over broth.

 

 

  • Lemberger (trocken)
  • Dornfelder (trocken)
  • Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (trocken)
  • Lemberger (halbtrocken & feinherb)
  • Dornfelder (halbtrocken & feinherb)
  • Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (halbtrocken & feinherb)