Decanting Digest: Three German non-alcoholic wines to enhance your Dry January
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In a previous Decanting Digest, we looked at three non-alcoholic wines from Gruvi that provide zero-alcohol beverage substitutes for situations such as social gatherings.
Continuing on a theme—and why not? The zero-alcohol movement is gaining steam and looks primed to continue well past January—this article looks at three more wines. These are from a line of de-alcoholized wine from German winemaker Weingut Leitz. Each is made in the traditional style alongside the rest of Leitz’s line-up, and the alcohol is removed later in production.
These wines are imported into Ontario by Vineland Estates Winery. When we stopped in during January, there were 750 mL bottles of non-alcoholic Riesling ($13.95), rosé ($13.95), sparking Riesling ($14.95), sparkling rosé ($14.95), and Pinot noir ($13.50) available at the boutique, as well as the cans featured below. As you’ll see, we found some to be better than others, but all of them will be a welcome change of pace as you continue through Dry January and beyond.
Leitz Zero-Point-Five De-alcoholized Pinot Noir
$3.95 per 250 mL can
As is the case with all of Leitz’s wine, this de-alcoholized Pinot noir begins its life as a traditional Pinot noir and then the alcohol is removed before bottling and canning. Note that this is not a completely alcohol-free wine: it has a residual 0.5% alcohol content. It pours with a very light colour, and while de-alcoholized wine can be shy on the nose without alcohol to lift the aromas out of the glass, this one does preview a fruitiness that continues onto the palate. It features primarily tart cherry flavours with some tannin on the finish and is lightly sweet and very fruit-assertive, falling closer to the off-dry end of the spectrum. While not a straight-up substitute for a traditional Pinot noir, those who enjoy a very light red wine may enjoy it.
Score: 5/10
Leitz Eins-Zwei-Zero De-alcoholized Sparking Rosé
$3.95 per 250 mL can
The can gives no hints of the varietals involved in producing this sparkling rosé, but given its similarity to the wine that follows, we suspect some Riesling may be involved. It pours with an appealing orangey-pink colour and effervescence, and the palate is dry with flavours of lemon and other citrus. It’s a strong zero-alcohol offering that will appeal to those who don’t enjoy a wine with overly assertive flavours.
Score: 6.5/10
Leitz Eins-Zwei-Zero De-alcoholized Sparking Riesling
$3.95 per 250 mL can
In a word: wow! If someone handed this to us at a party and told us it was wine, we wouldn’t question that in the slightest. It presents like any other sparkling Riesling with a lemony yellow colour and plenty of bubbles. While the lack of aroma gives pause, hesitation quickly gives way to the bold and zesty lemon that makes itself known immediately upon the first sip. So far, this is the best zero-alcohol wine in Canada that we’ve found.
Score: 7.5/10
