Food

Non-alcoholic wine trend: is it really better than regular wine?

The trend for a healthy lifestyle is gaining momentum, more and more people are completely refusing to drink alcohol. So, in Russia, non-alcoholic wine is becoming more and more popular. And given that slowly but surely the events are returning to our lives, we decided to find out: is it a successful marketing or a worthy alternative to alcoholic beverages?

 

Why non-alcoholic wine

Non-alcoholic wine gives you the option of not standing out at corporate parties, friend parties and social events. You can hold a glass in your hand, toast your guests and not have to answer every other person’s question, “Why aren’t you drinking, what’s wrong with you?” You don’t waste time with unnecessary explanations and can discuss more interesting topics. Plus, wine in a nice glass looks more aesthetically pleasing than regular mineral water.

 

Besides, the alcohol free version is suitable for those who are going to drive, suffer from a hangover in the morning, or come to an event from an intensive training session or go to it early in the morning. And also – if the doctor recommends completely to exclude alcohol for medical reasons.

 

Difference from ordinary wine

Alcoholic in our country is considered a drink in which the ethanol content exceeds 0.5%. There is no absolute “zero” in alcoholic products – there is always a small percentage of alcohol.

 

In non-alcoholic wine, the level of ethyl alcohol is reduced to a safe volume – up to 0.5%. That is, it is present, but in a minimal dosage. To get these values, you need to extract the alcohol from the wine. This is done in three ways.

 

First: the wine is heated to 80 degrees and the ethyl alcohol is evaporated. This is a crude practice in which the substances responsible for taste, aroma and useful properties are evaporated along with the alcohol. This is why heating the wine is not used among high-end non-alcoholic wines, as the process drastically changes the beverage.

 

Another method: vacuum distillation, when the drink is also heated, but to 27 degrees. This is less destructive to the wine, but still changes its original flavor and aroma.

 

Reverse osmosis is the gentlest and gentlest, but longest method, when water and alcohol molecules are filtered through a special membrane, leaving larger particles of flavor and aroma substances in the drink.

 

Regardless of the production method, non-alcoholic wine loses in bouquet and flavor, so it differs markedly from regular wine. Obviously, people who are used to the sensation of classic winemaking samples may be disappointed. Only the color of the drink and the form of presentation remain the same.

How to choose

There are many samples on the shelves called “wine drink.” They are made with partial use of wine or even without it, so be careful. It is better to buy non-alcoholic wines in specialized stores. The most famous producers are Spanish Torres with their non-alcoholic Natureo and Freixenet lines and their brand Legero, Germans Carl Jung and Peter Mertis, Czech Rudolf Jelinek with its Revine, Italians Barrique Italia with the WineZero label. Among the Russian producers who supported the promising trend, the pioneers were Vina Arpachina and Kuban-Vino with their brand Aristov 8.

 

These wines are made according to established standards, so the drinks do not have a negative impact on human health.

 

Prices for a bottle of non-alcoholic wine in Russia, as a rule, start from 300 rubles and can reach 2500 rubles.

 

Benefits and harms

The caloric value of non-alcoholic wine is about half that of regular wine due to the absence of alcohol. In addition, scientists in a study found that red non-alcoholic wine helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease.

 

With the gentle production method, non-alcoholic wines retain all the vitamins and minerals found in regular wine. This includes vitamin C and B vitamins, as well as many trace elements, including zinc, cobalt, and manganese.

 

Despite the innocuousness of the non-alcoholic drink, it is not recommended to drink it for allergic people. Such wine still contains alcohol, although in small amounts. Even 0.5% can be dangerous to people who should not consume a milligram of ethanol.

 

The composition of non-alcoholic wine includes dyes and preservatives, so you should not get addicted to it or quench your thirst. For the latter, pure water is the best option.