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There’s a wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks you can serve at your restaurant or bar. There are many alternatives - from fruit-infused water and mocktails to non-alcoholic gluten-free drinks. There’s even non-alcoholic beer for all the beer lovers that can’t have a regular beer but really want to.
If you are a restaurant owner who is looking for more alcohol-free drinks to add to the menu - you will find this article helpful! Let’s talk about the things you want and need to know about non-alcoholic wine.
Adding new items to your menu should not be done on a whim. Any restaurant’s beverage program needs to be thought out and created in accordance with the dishes being served.
Another important thing to consider is, of course, your customer base and what they would like to drink alongside their meal.
If you want to include non-alcoholic wine in your wine list, here’s all you need to know before you order the bottles!
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How Is Non-Alcoholic Wine Made?
Non-alcoholic wine is produced the same way alcoholic wine is made. The difference in the making of alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine is the last step. During this last step, the alcohol is removed from the wine. The end product is non-alcoholic wine.
A common way to make sure there’s no alcohol left in the wine is called vacuum distillation. This method uses heat to evaporate the alcohol in the wine. By maintaining a high heat that won’t make the wine boil or burn, the alcohol is removed and leaves the original flavor of the wine intact.
When the vacuum distillation process is complete, there’s a really small amount of alcohol left in the wine. The final product, however, is maintaining the flavor profile of the original wine.
Other methods of making non-alcoholic wine include reverse osmosis and passing wine through a series of spinning cone columns.
To learn more about wine alcohol content in regular types of wine, check out our article on the topic.
Key Takeaway: Non-alcoholic wine is a great option item to add to your beverage menu. It will give drivers and people avoiding alcohol more alternatives to choose from and enjoy great drink and food pairings. Increased customer satisfaction will result in increased profit for your business.
How Much ABV in Non-Alcoholic Wines?
Regular wines usually are between 11 and 13% ABV. Non-alcoholic wine has an ABV of 0%. There’s a third category called de-alcoholized wine with an ABV of 5%.
De-alcoholized and non-alcoholic wines have a similar flavor profile to that of different varieties of wine with alcohol content. This suggests that people can enjoy various food and wine pairing options even if they don’t want to consume alcohol.
Are There Any Health Benefits of Drinking Non-Alcoholic Wine?
Most people know there are health benefits of drinking wine. There are large numbers of people who consume wine regularly not only for the joy of it. They have a glass of wine every now and then, so they can reap the great benefits wine offers. They even enjoy learning about freezing wine for the joy of it.
A study has shown that not only regular varieties of wine can be beneficial for people’s health. The risk of heart disease can be lowered when drinking non-alcoholic wine. It’s also said to reduce the chances of getting a stroke by 20%.
Although this research is in the early stages, drinking non-alcoholic wine is already associated with reduced risks of some types of cancer. Additional benefits to keep in mind are reducing blood clots, lowing low-density cholesterol, slowing the progression of Parkinson's and Alzheimer’s disease, and having anti-diabetic potential.
And the benefits don’t stop there! The non-alcoholic wines have fewer calories and they won’t cause you a hangover. Read our article about calories in a bottle of wine if you want to learn more on the topic.
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Is Non-Alcoholic Wine Sweet?
The sweetness in wine is not affected by the alcohol content. It all depends on the type of grapes used in the production of the wine. Some wines are a lot sweeter than others and in general, you can find wine for any taste.
After the alcohol is removed from the wine, some producers add sugar or grape juice. Others prefer to use botanicals and other natural flavors so the wine is not too sweet at the end.
Is There Vegan Non-Alcoholic Wine?
You can have non-alcoholic wine and you can have vegan wine. And fortunately, you can have both vegan and alcohol-free wine at the same time! Even though some animal products and byproducts are often used in the production of wine, there’s a way to avoid that.
There are vegan fining agents that winemakers can use to make the wine vegan. Then, alcohol is removed from the wine to create vegan non-alcoholic wine. This is a drink that customers with different diets and lifestyles can enjoy, which makes it a great addition to your wine list.
Is Non-Alcoholic Wine More Expensive?
The equipment used to produce non-alcoholic wines is complex and expensive. This oftentimes can be seen in the price of the wine bottles. But there are other factors that affect the price. This includes the type of grapes being used, the way the winemakers work, the location, and more.
Is There Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine?
Lately, non-alcoholic sparkling wines and champagnes are becoming popular. These wines are as crisp and refreshing as their alcoholic counterparts and can be enjoyed with brunch (see: what is brunch), lunch, or dinner - guilt free! And you can drive after, which is another great benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions about Non-Alcoholic Wine in Bars and Restaurants
If you run a business in the hospitality industry, you probably want to know everything there is to know before you add non-alcoholic wine to your offers. To help you with that, let’s look into some commonly asked questions about it.
Can Non-Alcoholic Wine Age?
Non-alcoholic wines can age just like alcoholic wines. Through the process of aging, the flavor of the wine intensifies.
This can be done in a few different ways. In bottles, stainless steel, or oak barrels. Non-alcoholic wine is not grape juice and aging is one thing that proves there’s a big difference between the two.
Can Individuals Under 21 Have Non-Alcoholic Wine?
Laws in different countries and states can vary but in most parts of the USA people under 18 can’t have non-alcoholic drinks like wine and beer. In some locations, these beverages can be bought and consumed only by individuals who have already turned 21.
When running a bar or a restaurant, you need to familiarize yourself with the local laws and make sure that you serve non-alcoholic wine and beer only to individuals who can legally have it.
What Foods Pair Well with Non-Alcoholic Wines?
Cheese, steak, chocolate, pork, duck, pizza, fish, and every other food you would have with regular wine goes well with non-alcoholic wines. You can even cook with non-alcoholic wine and create unique dishes for your customers to enjoy.
Adding non-alcoholic wine is a great way to increase customer satisfaction because you will cater to a wider audience. Make sure to serve red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines as part of your no-alcohol drinks menu. Just imagine how many more great drink and food pairings people will be able to enjoy at your restaurant!