Wine vs non-alcoholic wine: what's the difference
Under EU rules, non-alcoholic wine is real wine with the alcohol removed after fermentation. So it keeps the wine aroma and acidity, but its strength and calories are very different.
| 🍷 Wine | 🍷 Alcohol-free wine | |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 8.5–9 % vol or more | Up to 0.5 % vol; partially de-alcoholised: above 0.5 % |
| How it is made | Alcoholic fermentation of grapes or grape juice | A finished wine first, then the alcohol is removed: partial vacuum evaporation, membranes, distillation |
| Restrictions | — | Sugar in the grape juice may not be raised at the same time; PDO/PGI wines only partially |
| Label | Name of the wine category | «de-alcoholised» or «partially de-alcoholised» next to the category |
| Energy per 100 g | 82–85 kcal | About 6 kcal |
Which to choose
Non-alcoholic wine keeps the wine aroma and acidity but has a lighter body, since alcohol gives wine its weight and warmth. It has far fewer calories, which makes it an option for drivers, pregnant women and anyone cutting down on alcohol. To avoid alcohol completely, look for «de-alcoholised» rather than «partially de-alcoholised» on the label.
Sources
Themes
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