Sans Alcool Tasting
Natureo
Hello and happy Tuesday!
I’m continuing my ‘Sans Alcool’ series this week with Natureo wines from the Familia Torres winery in Spain. Their portfolio of dealcoholized wines includes a red made from Grenache and Syrah, a white made from Muscat, a rosé made from Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, and a sparkling white made from Muscat. So far, I’ve tested the red. This week, I’ll be trying the rest.
The idea for a dealcoholized line was born in the early 2000s when Torres noted a shift in consumer preferences, signaling a growing interest in responsible drinking among the younger demographic. This led Mireia Torres, the 5th generation of the Torres family and current Director of Innovation, to embark on a comprehensive research effort that culminated in the birth of Spain’s first dealcoholized wine, Natureo, unveiled in 2008.
With the inaugural vintage of Natureo (a Muscat white wine, 0.5%), Natureo made a groundbreaking entry into the market. Over the years, advancements in technology and the accumulation of expertise allowed Torres to expand the range, introducing the first 0.0 wine and continuing to push the boundaries of high-quality, low and non-alcoholic wines. Their mission is to craft dealcoholized wines that respect the original wine and preserve the essence of the grape variety. Natureo has stood out in international competitions and found a presence in more than 30 countries.
Creating a balanced, dealcoholized wine is no easy feat, as the removal of alcohol alters the sensory impact of the wine. This starts by identifying the best vineyards and grape varieties. Central to the dealcoholization process used by Torres is the utilization of the Spinning Cone Column (SCC) technique, a method carefully chosen after testing various dealcoholizing techniques. SCC stands out as a “chemical-free” process involving the addition of steam to the wine. Compared to standard extraction techniques, this gentle approach claims to minimize thermal impact, allowing the primary varietal aromas to be captured and reintroduced into the dealcoholized wine.
Wine tried:
Natureo Grenache – Syrah
Pairing:
Vegan sausage on a roll with onions in tomato sauce
Notes:
In the coming weeks, I’ll be trying more non-alcoholic beverages and introducing them here (without reviews).
All beverages will be featured on my Instagram Story ‘Sans Alcool’.
Read my past intros to nonalcoholic beverages here:
Noughty
Leitz
Highball Cocktails