The rise of alcohol free wine and why we're not raising a glass

Iván González Gaínza
Apr 24
3 min read

Why is 0.0% alcohol wine (sadly) one of the fastest-growing trends in the Drinks Industry?!

Let’s get this out of the way early: You might have already guessed it, but we’re not fans!

At Wine Industry Mallorca, we’ve watched with a mix of disbelief and dismay as alcohol free wine has become one of the fastest-growing trends in the drinks business.

Yes, you read that right. Not craft vermouths. Not rare varietals from obscure vineyards. No, it’s the stuff where the wine is made - and then stripped of what makes it wine: the alcohol.

Various bottles of sparkling rosé wine with 0.0% labels attached — @Shutterstock

It’s a curious development, and one we feel compelled to address.

What is alcohol free wine?

In simple terms, it starts life as real wine. Grapes are grown, harvested, crushed, and fermented - just as nature intended. But then, at the end of this beautiful, centuries-old process, the wine is manipulated to remove the alcohol. The most common methods? Vacuum distillation (where wine is heated under low pressure so alcohol evaporates) or reverse osmosis (where the wine is filtered and separated molecule by molecule). The result? A beverage that might look like wine, might smell faintly like wine - but in our view, has lost its soul.

0% vs. Low Alcohol Wine

Let’s also make a clear distinction here: low alcohol wines (think Mosel Riesling or Txakoli from the Basque country) are naturally low in alcohol due to climate, grape type, or winemaking style. They’re made to be that way. 0% alcohol wine, on the other hand, is not natural. It’s wine that’s been mechanically altered after fermentation to remove the alcohol entirely.

Why We Disapprove

Terroir - soil composition is a key element, seen here at 7103 petit Celler in Mallorca

At Wine Industry Mallorca, we’re all about authenticity. Wine is the product of terroir, weather, time, and human craftsmanship. To remove the alcohol is to remove an essential element of what makes wine, well… wine. Alcohol isn’t just a buzz - it’s a carrier of aroma, body, structure. Take it out, and you’re left with something that feels like an echo of the original. A shell.

And here’s the kicker: we already live in a world overflowing with incredible, naturally non-alcoholic options. From herbal infusions and sparkling teas to kombuchas and botanical sodas - there is no shortage of real, unmanipulated, alcohol-free beverages. Clean, pure, thoughtfully made drinks that never had alcohol to begin with.

Why insist on reshaping wine into something it was never meant to be?

Social Inclusion

We do understand that for some, ordering a 0% alcohol wine is about inclusion. You don’t want to feel left out while your friends enjoy a glass of something grown and fermented. That’s entirely fair.

But here’s something to keep in mind: if the people around you judge your choice simply because you’re not drinking alcohol, perhaps the issue isn’t in your glass - but at your table. True friends don’t need everyone drinking the same thing to share a moment. If what’s in your glass matters more than the conversation around it, it might be time to raise different kinds of toasts, with different company.

A Trend Worth Watching - But we're not ready to toast it

We understand the growing demand for sober-curious options. We respect those who choose to avoid alcohol. But we also believe that wine, by its very nature, isn’t meant to be everything to everyone. That’s okay. That’s part of its charm.

If you're looking for a zero-alcohol drink, we’ll gladly recommend something made with integrity - just don’t ask us to pour you a 0% wine.

Here are some lower-alcohol wines and alcohol-free alternatives we’d proudly serve at our table: