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All the medallists from the Low and No Alcohol Wine Masters

We reveal all the medal-winning brands from December’s Low and No Alcohol Wine Masters in which Australia, France and Spain took home Gold medals, using residual sugar and bubbles to compensate for the absence of alcohol.

Alcohol brings brings richness and sweetness to wine, so removing it can leave a thin and tart result without compensatory measures

AS WITH all our Global Wine Masters competitions, an extensive tasting provides not only a chance to pick out the stars, but also to perform a health check on the category in question. In this case, the sector is one that’s relatively new and fast-growing – no and low alcohol wine.

Attracting much interest at the moment from the wine world, following the success of alcohol-free spirits and beer, it’s hoped that wine can benefit from the increasing number of consumers who want to drink, but not consume any alcohol – or a reduced quantity. This could be for any number of reasons, and could see them choose a less alcoholic alternative, or one with none of the hard stuff in it whatsoever. It may also see them flit between the two, going for a full-strength drink for one round, and then a no- or low-alcohol drop as a means to moderate their intake.

However they approach the category, and whatever their motives for going no or low, it’s obviously important that the products taste good. And it seems, judging by this year ’s tasting, and by our inaugural competition for the sector in 2022, that creating palatable wine with lower or no alcohol is difficult. The problem stems in particular from alcohol’s role in providing body and sweetness. Take it out, and a wine can taste thin and tart. Furthermore, in the case of red wines specifically, where tannins are present at high levels, an absence of alcohol can leave the wine not only tasting weedy and acidic, but unpleasantly grainy too, leaving one with a drying sensation on the finish.

So what are the solutions? It involves finding ways to introduce a full and smooth mouthfeel to a wine, whatever the colour. The techniques are myriad, but a common approach is replacing the alcohol with some form of sweetness – and, as a result, many of the top-scoring samples had at least some residual sugar in them. Bubbles help too, with the fizz bringing a creamy texture to the mid-palate, and – if there is sweetness in the wine – a refreshing and cleansing feel to the finish.

However, the most impressive to my mind were those with very low levels and zero alcohol, because such samples were closest in style to a standard wine. Indeed, Cordier, Australian Vintage and Oddbird showed that it is possible to create a convincing zero-alcohol alternative to full-strength wine – something that a few years ago I wasn’t sure was possible. Opting for such wines still represents a compromise in terms of taste and texture, but it’s not a disappointment.

As for the low- and lower-alcohol wines that stood out for quality, these tended to be more wine-like – even 5.5% ABV makes a big difference to the character. But I couldn’t help feeling that the wines from 5.5% to 9% do have existing competition in the marketplace from longstanding wines that haven’t been doctored or deliberately made for a particular purpose. By that I mean Moscato d’Asti in fizz and, among still white wines, Mosel Rieslings. The difference, though, with these wines is that they are not marketed specifically as low- and lower-alcohol wines – they are just great, unique products that happen to have a low ABV.

Please read on to see all the medallists from the 2023 competition, and please click here to see a report on the top-performing alcohol-free wines from the tasting.

White Sparkling Brut (12g/l or lower) – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
£10-£15
Veuve du Vernay Alcohol Removed Burgundy France NV Bronze
£15-£20
Oddbird Blanc de Blancs Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Silver
Oddbird Spumante Veneto Italy NV Bronze

White Sparkling Sweet (12g/l+) – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero Sparkling SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Divin Sparkling White 0.0% Loire Valley France 2021 Silver
Schloss Wachenheim Eisberg Selection Alcohol-Free Blanc de Blancs Pfalz Germany NV Silver
Félix Solís Avantis Viña Albali Sparkling Low-Alcohol White Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Silver
Australian Vintage Not Guilty Prosecco SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Jacob’s Creek UnVined Sparkling South Australia Australia NV Silver
Edenvale Sparkling Cuvée SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Nozeco Nozeco France France NV Silver
Australian Vintage Tempus Two Zero Prosecco SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
Peter Herres Wein Zerozecco Mosel Germany NV Bronze
Codorníu Zero Barcelona Spain NV Bronze
Vallformosa 0,0 Catalonia Spain 2022 Bronze
Vallformosa Gran Barón 0,0 Catalonia Spain 2022 Bronze
Cordier Bonne Nouvelle Blanc Gironde France NV Bronze
Pierre Chavin Pierre Zéro Spritz Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Bronze
£10-£15
Juan Ramón Lozano Zeno Alcohol Liberated Sparkling Castilla-La Mancha Spain NV Bronze
Pierre Chavin Zéro Chardonnay Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Bronze
Cave de Ribeauvillé Rib0 Sparkling Alsace France NV Bronze
Iris Vigneti Sea Change Free Veneto Italy NV Bronze

White Sparkling Brut (12g/l or lower) – Low Alcohol (>5.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Limestone Coast Wines The Hidden Sea Pinot Grigio Spritz Cans South Australia Australia NV Bronze

White Sparkling Brut (12g/l or lower) – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
El Gaitero Group Don Piere Sparkling Brut Asturias Spain NV Silver
Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato White South Australia Australia NV Bronze

White Sparkling Sweet (12g/l+) – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
£10-£15
Australian Vintage Tempus Two Lighten Up Prosecco SE Australia Australia 2022 Silver

Rosé Sparkling Brut (12g/l or lower) – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Herres Kylie Minogue 0% Sparkling Rosé Mosel Germany NV Silver
£15-£20
Oddbird Sparkling Rosé Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Gold
Oddbird Spumante Rosé Veneto Italy NV Silver

Rosé Sparkling Sweet (12g/l+) – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Australian Vintage Not Guilty Rosé Prosecco SE Australia Australia NV Gold
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero Rosé Spritz SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Peter Herres Wein Rosé Zerozecco Mosel Germany NV Silver
Codorníu Zero Rosé Barcelona Spain NV Silver
Vintense Prestige Rosé Spain Spain NV Bronze
Divin Sparkling Blush Rosé 0.0% Loire Valley France 2021 Bronze
£10-£15
Domaine la Colombette Della Vite Zero Languedoc France 2023 Silver
Sidewood Estate Nearly Naked Sparkling Rosé Adelaide Hills Australia NV Bronze
Anna Spinato Winery Zero Blush Veneto Italy 2023 Bronze

Rosé Sparkling Sweet (12g/l+) – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato Rosé South Australia Australia NV Bronze

Red Sparkling Sweet (12g/l+) – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Edenvale Premium Reserve Sparkling Shiraz SE Australia Australia NV Silver

Unoaked Still White – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Australian Vintage Tempus Two Zero Pinot Grigio SE Australia Australia NV Gold
Edenvale Expedition Series Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc Spain Spain NV Gold
Edenvale Sauvignon Blanc SE Australia Australia NV Gold
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero 0.5 Sauvignon Blanc SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Divin Sauvignon Blanc 0.0% Loire Valley France 2021 Silver
Schloss Wachenheim Eisberg Selection Alcohol-Free Pinot Grigio Pfalz Germany NV Silver
Félix Solís Avantis Viña Albali Low-Alcohol Sauvignon Blanc Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Silver
Australian Vintage Not Guilty Pinot Grigio SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Viña Tarapacá Alcohol Free Santiago Chile 2023 Silver
Giesen Group Ara Zero Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand NV Silver
Cordier Bonne Nouvelle Blanc Occitanie France NV Silver
Giesen Group 0% Riesling New Zealand New Zealand NV Silver
Vintense O°rigin Terra Australis South Australia Australia NV Silver
Félix Solís Avantis Mucho Más White Low Alcohol Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Bronze
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero Sauvignon Blanc SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
Giesen Group 0% Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand New Zealand NV Bronze
JJ Leitz Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling Rheingau Germany NV Bronze
Giesen Group 0% Pinot Gris New Zealand New Zealand NV Bronze
Jacob’s Creek UnVined Riesling South Australia Australia 2022 Bronze
£10-£15
Daniel Mattern NoLimit Riesling Rheinhessen Germany NV Silver
Juan Ramón Lozano Zeno Alcohol Liberated White Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Silver
Cave de Ribeauvillé Rib0 Alsace France NV Silver
Wednesday’s Domaine Piquant Castilla-La Mancha Spain NV Bronze
Manufaktur Jörg Geiger 35 Grad Bordeaux France 2022 Bronze
Gil Family Estates Disfrutando Verdejo 0.0% Jumilla Spain 2022 Bronze
£15-£20
Domaine de la Grenaudière Phénomène Loire Valley France NV Bronze

Unoaked Still White – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2023 Gold
Kingsland Drinks Revero Pinot Grigio Friuli Italy NV Gold
Jacob’s Creek Dots Moscato White South Australia Australia 2022 Gold
Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc South Australia Australia 2023 Silver
Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Belight Sauvignon Blanc Central Valley Chile 2023 Silver
Brancott Estate Flight Pinot Gris Marlborough New Zealand 2022 Silver
Oxford Landing Sunlight Chardonnay South Australia Australia 2023 Silver
Reguta Luigi e Lucina DOC Friuli Pinot Grigio Friuli-Venezia Giulia Italy 2023 Silver
Australian Vintage McGuigan Mid Sauvignon Blanc SE Australia Australia 2022 Silver
Giesen Group Pure Light Pinot Gris Marlborough New Zealand 2022 Silver
Excelsior Little Hill Sauvignon Robertson South Africa 2023 Bronze
Journey’s End Vineyards Bees Knees Western Cape South Africa 2023 Bronze
Spier Wine Farm Everlight Chenin Blanc Western Cape South Africa 2023 Bronze
Spier Wine Farm Everlight Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape South Africa 2023 Bronze
Cramele Recas Calusari Vinul Verii Banat Romania 2021 Bronze
Spier Wine Farm Everlight Chardonnay Western Cape South Africa 2023 Bronze
Jacob’s Creek Dots Pinot Grigio South Australia Australia 2022 Bronze
£10-£15
Giesen Group Pure Light Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand New Zealand 2022 Silver
Bodegas Agronavarra Blaw Blanco 5.5 Vino de la Tierra Spain 2022 Silver
Domaine Bousquet Lo-Ca Organic Low Calorie Chardonnay Mendoza Argentina 2022 Bronze
Bon Courage Estate The Gooseberry Bush Colombard Sauvignon Robertson South Africa 2023 Bronze

Oaked Still White – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Pierre Chavin Chavin Zéro Chardonnay Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Gold
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero Chardonnay SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
Viña San Pedro Gato Negro Sauvignon Blanc Free Región del Maule Chile 2023 Bronze
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero 0.05 Chardonnay SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
£15-£20
Oddbird Precense Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Silver

Oaked Still White – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Cordier Low Matter What Occitanie France NV Gold

Unoaked Still Rosé – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Félix Solís Avantis Viña Albali Low-Alcohol Garnacha Rosé Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Bronze
Australian Vintage Not Guilty Rosé SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
Cordier Bonne Nouvelle Rosé Occitanie France NV Bronze
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero Rosé SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
Jacob’s Creek UnVined Rosé South Australia Australia 2022 Bronze
Manufaktur Jörg Geiger 32 Grad Pfalz Germany 2022 Bronze
Giesen Group Giesen 0% Rosé New Zealand New Zealand NV Bronze
Giesen Group Ara Zero Rosé New Zealand New Zealand NV Bronze

Unoaked Still Rosé – Low Alcohol (>5.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
£10-£15
Vondeling Wine Lecap 5% Rosé South Africa Paardeberg NV Bronze

Unoaked Still Rosé – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Cordier Low Matter What Occitanie France NV Gold
The Wine Group Wildwood Zinfandel Rosé California USA 2022 Silver
Mezzacorona Ventessa Pinot Grigio Rosé Trentino Italy 2023 Bronze
Mezzacorona Nove Pinot Grigio Rosé Trentino Italy 2023 Bronze
Australian Vintage McGuigan Mid Rosé SE Australia Australia 2023 Bronze
Jacob’s Creek Dots Moscato Rosé South Australia Australia 2022 Bronze
£10-£15
Bodegas Agronavarra Blaw Rosado 5.5 Vino de la Tierra Spain 2022 Silver

Unoaked Still Red – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Jacob’s Creek UnVined Shiraz South Australia Australia 2022 Gold
Félix Solís Avantis Mucho Más Red Low Alcohol Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Silver
Cordier Bonne Nouvelle Rouge Occitanie France NV Silver
Félix Solís Avantis Viña Albali Low Alcohol Tempranillo Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Bronze
Vintense O°rigin Les Galets Rhône France NV Bronze
Juan Ramón Lozano Zeno Alcohol Liberated Red Castilla-La Mancha Spain 2022 Bronze
Giesen Group Giesen 0% Merlot New Zealand New Zealand NV Bronze
£10-£15
Wednesday’s Domaine Sanguine La Mancha Spain NV Bronze
£15-£20
Vignobles Raguenot – Château des Tourtes Tip Top Bordeaux France NV Gold

Unoaked Still Red – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Giesen Group Giesen Pure Light Merlot New Zealand New Zealand 2022 Bronze
Kingsland Drinks Revero Shiraz SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
Oxford Landing Sunlight Shiraz South Australia Australia 2021 Bronze
£10-£15
Casa Santos Lima Stones & Bones Ligeiro Lisbon Portugal 2021 Bronze

Oaked Still Red – No Alcohol (<0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Australian Vintage Not Guilty Red Blend SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Edenvale Premium Reserve Pinot Noir SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Edenvale Expedition Series Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon Spain Spain NV Silver
Edenvale Cabernet Sauvignon SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Australian Vintage McGuigan Zero 0.5 Shiraz SE Australia Australia NV Bronze
JJ Leitz Leitz Zero Point Five Pinot Noir Rheingau Germany NV Bronze
£10-£15
Pierre Chavin Chavin Zéro Syrah Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Silver
Comercial DYP Sinzero Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Chile 2021 Bronze
Manufaktur Jörg Geiger 36 Grad Cotes-du-Rhône France 2022 Bronze
£15-£20
Manufaktur Jörg Geiger Edition Zwölberich Nahe Germany 2022 Bronze
Manufaktur Jörg Geiger 37 Grad Languedoc France 2022 Bronze
Oddbird GSM Languedoc-Roussillon France NV Bronze
£30-£50
Heribert Bayer Zeronimo Leonis Blend Burgenland Austria 2020 Bronze

Oaked Still Red – Lower Alcohol (>11%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Andrew Peace Black Label Shiraz Victoria Australia 2022 Silver
Andrew Peace If Pigs Could Fly Merlot South Australia Australia 2022 Silver
Australian Vintage McGuigan Mid Shiraz SE Australia Australia 2022 Silver
Australian Vintage McGuigan Black Label Mid Red SE Australia Australia 2022 Silver
Andrew Peace Kooliburra Australian Merlot SE Australia Australia 2022 Bronze
Viña San Pedro Gato Negro Balance Red Blend Maule Valley Chile 2023 Bronze
£10-£15
Australian Vintage Tempus Two Lighten Up Shiraz SE Australia Australia NV Silver
Australian Vintage Tempus Two Lighten Up Pinot Noir SE Australia Australia 2022 Silver
Australian Vintage Tempus Two Lighten Up Cabernet Sauvignon SE Australia Australia NV Bronze

Pre-mixed/RTD – Low Alcohol (>0.5%)

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Croft Pink Port & Tonic Douro Valley Portugal NV Gold
Taylor’s Port Taylor’s Chip Dry & Tonic Douro Valley Portugal NV Silver
Bodegas Barbadillo Barbadillo Mixed Andalucia Spain NV Silver

Sake – Lower Alcohol (15.5%)

Producer Name of wine Region Country Vint Medal
£30-50
Sun Valley Rice SoGood Sake California & Oregon USA NV Gold

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Low and No Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 6 December at Aspen & Meursault in London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Low and No Master. This report features the medal winners only. Please visit The Global Wine Masters website for more information or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

Read more

Eight great alcohol-free wines

Five fine low-alcohol wines

Top 10 alcohol-free wine brands in the UK

The remarkable rise of zero-alcohol fizz

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