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Dry January 2025: Wine Made Easy

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Dry January 2025: 

Embracing Alcohol-Free Wines Rich Heritage 

The world of wine is rapidly evolving, and one of the most exciting trends in recent years is the rise of alcohol-free wines.

Lesser-known traditional varieties like Mosto are alternative options;  consumers are embracing wines that offer the same complexity, enjoyment, and cultural heritage—without the alcohol content.

Let’s look at how alcohol-free wines are becoming an integral part of modern wine culture and why people are enthusiastic about exploring them.

Alcohol-Free Wines: A Rising Trend

The interest in alcohol-free wines has skyrocketed, driven by health-conscious consumers, people looking to moderate their alcohol intake, or those simply seeking a different experience without sacrificing taste or tradition. Modern techniques have made it possible to craft wines that offer rich flavours and aromas while eliminating the alcohol content.

For personal health reasons or simply a change in taste, alcohol-free wines now provide a sophisticated and enjoyable alternative to their alcoholic counterparts.

barrel of fresh grapes harvested for mosto alcohol free grape juice

Why People are Choosing Alcohol-Free Wines

  • Health Consciousness: Many people are opting for alcohol-free options to reduce their overall alcohol consumption while still being able to indulge in the social experience of wine-tasting and the extra benefits we are discovering for our bodies of the grape as a fruit.
  • Savouring the Experience: Alcohol-free wines allow consumers to enjoy the full wine-tasting experience without the side effects of alcohol like hangovers or impaired judgment. Drivers Welcome!
  • Inclusivity: As more people look for alternatives, alcohol-free wines ensure that everyone can participate in wine culture, regardless of personal preferences or health conditions.

Notable Alcohol-Free Wine Brands

  • Ariel Vineyards: Known for producing some of the best alcohol-free wines, Ariel Vineyards offers an array of options, including Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, with full flavors that mimic traditional wines.
  • Fre Wines: This brand provides a variety of alcohol-removed wines, such as Fre Merlot and Fre Brut, making it easy to enjoy classic wine styles without alcohol.
  • Thomson & Scott Noughty: A premium brand offering alcohol-free sparkling wines, Noughty is perfect for celebrations or any occasion where you want to enjoy a glass of bubbly without the alcohol content.

Mosto: The Ancient Wine with a Modern Twist

Alcohol-free wines are gaining popularity. They are part of the range of traditional wines which offer rich, complex flavors and are steeped in ancient winemaking traditions.

Mosto refers to grape juice that has not yet undergone fermentation, and in some regions, it is consumed as a sweet, non-alcoholic beverage, a type of grape juice, crushed and chilled. 

Mosto is another example of ancient winemaking traditions that have been revitalized in the modern world. In the context of wine, mosto can also refer to lightly fermented wines that offer a refreshing and less alcoholic option.

Cultural Heritage

Mosto has centuries-old roots and represents important parts of the cultural heritage of countries like Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Often enjoyed as part of festive meals, celebrations, and family gatherings, offering a link to ancient winemaking practices.

Today, we are rediscovering and celebrating these historical varieties, both in their original alcoholic forms and as non-alcoholic options.

How to Find Alcohol-Free Wines

As the trend for alcohol-free and lesser-known wines continues to grow, consumers now have more ways than ever to explore these options. Here are a few ways to start your journey into alcohol-free wines and traditional varieties:

Many retailers and wine shops now offer alcohol-free wine selections. Here’s where you can start:

  • Naked Wines: Known for their extensive wine selection, Naked Wines now offers a growing collection of alcohol-free wines, with everything from red and white wines to sparkling options.
  • Amazon: Amazon features an array of zero-proof wines, allowing you to compare brands and reviews to find the best option for your taste.
  • Drink Supermarket: Based in the UK, this online retailer specializes in alcohol-free wines and beverages, providing a curated list of high-quality wines that cater to different tastes.

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Mosto and fresh grape crush options

If you’re specifically interested in Mosto, it’s best to visit regions known for these wines. You can also find these wines through online shops specialising in Mediterranean or Iberian wines.

Understanding Alcohol Content: How to Find It

As people become more mindful of their alcohol intake, knowing the alcohol content of wines is more important than ever. Fortunately, most reputable wine sellers and platforms include the alcohol by volume (ABV) on their labels, websites, or product descriptions.

  • Online Retailers: Platforms like Vivino, a popular wine app, not only offer user reviews but also display the ABV for each wine in their extensive database. Vivino allows you to scan labels and access detailed information about alcohol content, taste, and pairing suggestions.
  • Wine Labels: When purchasing wine, whether at a store or online, always check the label for the ABV. Most wines will feature this prominently, and it is an essential factor when choosing wines, especially for those interested in low- or no-alcohol options.
  • Alcohol-Free Wine Apps: There are apps specifically designed for those seeking alcohol-free wines, such as The Alcohol-Free Wine Guide or Zero Proof. These apps offer comprehensive listings of alcohol-free wine options, along with reviews and recommendations.

New and Traditional Wine Experiences

Wine has always been more than just a drink—it’s a cultural experience, a celebration of taste, and a reflection of history.

If you’re exploring the rich and ancient flavours and enjoying the modern trend of alcohol-free wines, there’s something for everyone in the world of wine. Wine offers enjoyment and connection to history, but with the benefit of catering to diverse tastes and modern preferences.

So, whether you’re seeking a refreshing alternative to traditional wine, exploring the fascinating history of fortified wines, or simply looking to reduce alcohol intake while still enjoying a glass, the modern wine market has something to offer. It’s time to make wine easy, enjoyable, and inclusive for all. Cheers!

Resources & Links:

Tasting table bottle opened caps and corks

Tasting Table:

Interested in sipping a non-alcoholic wine? There have never been more non-alcoholic wine options on the market than there are right now. If you don’t have much experience with alcohol-free wines, you may be wondering which wine to choose and if it’ll taste anything like traditional wine. It can be overwhelming navigating the wine world as it is, even before throwing a booze-free curveball. Fear not, we’re here to lead you to the wine that’ll pair best with a good time, however you want to spend it.

Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/750367/non-alcoholic-wine-brands-ranked-from-worst-to-best/

https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/article/197231/dry-january-more-than-just-a-campaign/


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Insidetracker Dry January Guide to wine made easy enjoy with us at Stewart Hill Wines

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Ben Salisbury

Ben Salisbury, Founder and President of Salisbury Creative Group is a consultant, coach, content creator, public speaker, thought leader, subject matter expert, and entrepreneur for the wine and spirits industry.

His expertise in sales and marketing strategy has accumulated over four decades of work with some of the largest adult beverage companies in the world, including Ste Michelle Wine Estates and Constellation Brands.

Ben’s approach is to disrupt the status quo of how wines and spirits are marketed and sold, to challenge outdated practices, and to provide innovative solutions to help wineries and distilleries sell more products.

Ben frequently speaks at industry conferences, creates original content on his blog and YouTube channel, and has contributed articles to Wine Business Monthly.

Visit his website here.

Manuel Urcelay

Manuel has over ten years of experience in international business, in which he has developed a strong expertise in sales, business development, marketing and business strategy across diverse industries and regions, including wine and food. He has advised more than 30 companies on joint business plans, marketing implementations and supply chain management strategies in Asia, USA and Latin America, generating consistent revenue growth for all parties involved.

Manuel has recently completed his MBA at Imperial College Business School, where he expanded his knowledge and skills in innovation, marketing, operations, strategy and leadership. Manuel has made invaluable contributions to Stewart Hill’s Business Strategy and Planning”.

Rick Anderson

Rick is our Edinburgh-based Digital Design consultant, working remotely on everything from branding and label design to web and motion graphics.

Visit his portfolio site here.

Veronica King

Veronica is a Social Media Strategist and Business Consultant based in London.

Andrea Midas

Born in London, based in Spain with over 20 years of experience in Marketing and CRM for business development.

Graduate from LSE London with Branding, Sustainability and research qualifications in UK and Spain.

Bilingual English and Spanish.

Patricia Harvey

Patricia is a former, credit controller and worked for 15 years for one of the UK’s leading financial handling insurance including freight.

She has always had a passion for wine and have been for the past 4 years worked with us learning the wine trade. Pat recently participated in our exhibition at USATT Chicago.

Her role at Stewart Hill is to handle and develop our logistics.

Lucilda Stewart

Managing Director & Founder

Lucilda is the managing director and founder of Stewart-Hill Wines.  She manages general day to day running of the business, as well as key relationships with both key personnel and a dedicated team of consultants.  Lucilda also travels to overseas destinations to meet with distributors, wholesalers and retailers.  She commends the evolution of her wine journey, to her dedicated team of professionals and strong family ties.  The accolades by the US Wine Ratings 2023, which led to silver awards for their Orchida Negra (Crianza), Malbec labels and a silver award for their Rose by London Wine Competition, demonstrates the integrity of their wines and Lucilda’s indomitable will to succeed.

Lucilda studied at the Inns of Court School of Law and graduated from UCL London University in 1992.   She is a former lawyer,  who created her own legal niche company, working as an intermediary in accordance with the Bar Council’s direct public access to barristers scheme.  Her interest in wine, began many years earlier from casual tastings, training culminated in a Department of International Trade visit to Rioja Spain where she commenced discussions with wineries and honing her skills in wine exporting.

In 2014, Lucilda developed her own private label wine brand, working and investing in award winning wineries in Argentina and Spain.  Her dedication over the last 10 years, has led to award-winning varietals for B2B exports.