Giesen Wines launched what it says is the world's first alcohol-removed Sauvignon Blanc. Photo / 123rf
By RNZ
A New Zealand winemaker says he was prompted to create a zero alcohol Sauvignon Blanc after undertaking a lifestyle challenge.
Giesen Wines in Marlborough has launched what it says is the region's first alcohol-removed Sauvignon Blanc.
The wine is created as normal then a new high-tech spinning machine separates out the alcohol.
Giesen winemaker Nikolai St George said he thought of the idea after a workplace challenge.
"Last year we had a Fit 24 challenge at work and it involved culture and work and changing your lifestyle; no alcohol for a month, decreased sugar and increased exercise, less device time.
"The less alcohol part was quite hard for me, being a winemaker and being around wine for a long time."
He thought why not experiment with an alcohol-free drop.
The wine is produced using a spinning cone technology which St George says is a gentle form of distillation in a vacuum.
"The wine is passed multiple times through the spinning cones to remove the alcohol."
But alcohol also adds texture, weight and what winemakers call "mouth feel" to a wine, so those characteristics have to be added back into the Sauvignon Blanc, using natural yeast products to fill "the holes".
Giesen describes the wine as "much lighter than its full-strength counterpart and boasts citrus flavours with blackcurrant and passionfruit notes".
It believes the no-alcohol segment of lighter wines will become a significant part of the Lighter wine category.
Last year a report by the British food and drinks consultancy Zenith predicted global sale of zero alcohol drinks to grow by 10 per cent each year over the next five years.
Zenkuro was one of two non-Japanese breweries to be recognised at the challenge.