If beer companies can manage decent non alcoholic versions why can't wine makers?

[Gubu]

Or have I just missed them? I sometimes really enjoy a glass or two of wine. Reisling or reuda for white or a pinot noir if I'm drinking red. I actually enjoy the flavours. But the older I'm getting, the worse alcohol seems to like me. I sometimes have a non alcoholic beer and peroni and moretti have managed to make versions that are actually enjoyable to drink. Why can't wine makers do the same?

Erm probably because it’s a total different drink and process for making?
There’s some okay non-alch sparkling wines

Apparently they do. There was a lady in Radio 4 last Thursday just after 12PM. Womans Hour? No idea. She sells non alcoholic premium wine around £9/bottle. Successful story of a brand created by a woman. Can't remember the name of the company but I think they had a product called Skinny Wine that caused a debate about the name. She's all about high quality, reduced sugar, organic and fair trade non alcoholic wine. Search through bbc sounds and you'll find the recording

I feel this should be a solved problem and yet it isn't. All non alcoholic wine tastes like apple juice to me, whereas beer tastes like...beer. And the spirits companies have it sorted; I've got something in the fridge that is a direct dupe for Aperol, as far as I can tell. Will check out Skinny Wine. And watch this thread with interest.

The alcohol is part of the taste with wine. Removing alcohol also removes tannins. They have together add the depth of flavour that you associate with wine, red wine in particular. It isn’t the same way with beer as non-alcoholic beer retains its hops.

Wines that are aged for long periods generally start out with high levels of alcohol and tannins and develop complex flavours. Short term drinking wines (especially whites) have much lower levels of alcohol and tannins but also much simpler flavours. If you take the alcohol and tannins out altogether, you’re really left with juice.

Perhaps the market research shows they wouldn't get a return on the investment? It'll be a business decision ultimately.

Yes there is.
I live in a wine producing country. There are several shelves of 0 percent alcohol wine in our local supermarket. It tastes bloody awful though! I prefer non alcoholic beer.

Interesting, thanks for the explanation. I'll check out the podcast mentioned too.

Found that Radio 4 program!!!!

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001cpx4

Apologies Naughty Wine, not Skinny - she made an analogy and that's what I remembered.

I don't like and don't drink wine but I found it interesting.

Today's Gap Finder is Amanda Thomson, the CEO and Founder of Thomson & Scott and creator of Noughty- Alcohol-Free, Organic, Vegan and Halal Sparkling Rosé & Chardonnay, along with still red wine.

After a 25 year career as an arts broadcaster, Amanda set off to Paris to retrain in wine at the famous, Le Cordon Bleu. Now her brand is sold in 45 countries and Amanda is one of the leading voices in calls for greater transparency in wine labelling.

Thomson and Scott was first registered as a business in 2013 and began making traditional alcoholised champagne before launching Noughty in 2019, with their biggest customer base now in the United States.

The maker Amanda uses in Germany has a long standing history in dealcoholisation with practices developed by his great, great, great grandfather which have their origins in the19th-century.

Shari Vahl hears about Amanda's early start in business, securing funding and her ambitions for the future of the company.

Try good quality kombucha (IE not the flavoured pop they sell in the supermarkets). I really miss red wine but kombucha helps fill the desire for an adult drink. Take a look at Left field Kombucha, they do a variety pack made with 4 different teas. I'm not affiliated to them, just a happy customer.

Thank you for the ref to Noughty Wine, I'll take a look at them too