Edenvale to drive 2024 success with new alcohol removal plant

Award-winning producer Edenvale is investing $AU5 million in its new Murray-Darling facility for alcohol-removed wine production.

Edenvale has announced the centrepiece of its 2024 plans, a state-of-the-art processing facility for its alcohol-removed wines. The plant, which is due to begin operations in early April, is a major investment designed to align the company’s visions of innovation, sustainability and wellbeing. Its position in Murray-Darling, the country’s second largest wine region, will place it at the heart of the Australian wine industry.

Divided across four collections, Edenvale’s portfolio uses 18 varieties for an extensive selection of alcohol-removed wines. Its broad range, says senior winemaker Aaron Milne, “provides our customers with all the options they might expect to find in any regular winery.” The new development, costing $AU5m, will support production as the low- and no-alcohol sector continues to grow.

Edenvale’s wines have won several top-industry awards, including at the Global Low and No Alcohol Masters. At the competition, judged by Masters of Wine and industry experts, all seven of the entered wines won Gold or Silver medals.

However, the new development is more than just a result of growing demand. The innovative scheme, led by solutions from BevZero and Logichem, is a world-first for sustainable winemaking. The facilities are built around GoLo 2200 technology and will be the first production centre in the world to power it by direct heat pump technology.

With no fossil fuels needed to run the equipment, the setup will significantly reduce carbon emissions in the alcohol removal process. It also incorporates both the heating and cooling functions into one process. This ensures greater efficiency, as well as minimising heat shock to the wine.

The technology will also support a more efficient and higher-quality process of alcohol removal. It can de-alcoholise 2,200 litres of wine per hour when running at full capacity. Moreover, it loses 50% less volume compared to older technologies, with more heavy aromatic essences returned to the final product for improved flavour.

According to Milne, the new technology will allow both higher quality and creativity. “This brings control over the key step in our process completely in-house,” he says, “allowing more hands-on experimentation and finessing of our methods and recipes.”

The $AU5m investment stands in an established pattern of innovation at Edenvale. Although sober lifestyles and moderation have become recent focuses for the drinks industry, Edenvale has been at the forefront of the field long before the current vogue. Indeed, it has been producing non-alcoholic wines since 2006. 

Over more than 15 years, it has established itself as a key player in the market. Past ventures include leading research into the effects of antioxidants on health and, in 2021, expanding its range beyond Australia with Spanish wines in its Expedition Series.

As Edenvale begins 2024, its new production facilities promise to drive further innovation and expand production. Yet, no matter how cutting edge the technology, the goal has remained remarkably consistent: a premium, high quality wine that caters to an alcohol free lifestyle.

Patricia Stefanowicz MW judged two of Edenvale’s at the Global Low and No Masters 2023, with both winning Gold medals. Her tasting notes are presented below.

Edenvale NV Sauvignon Blanc

• Producer: Edenvale
• Region: Southeastern Australia
• Country: Australia
• Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• ABV: Less than 0.5%
• Residual sugar: 36g/l
• Vintage: NV
• Approx. retail price: £6
• Medal: Gold

Edenvale produces this medium-dry Sauvignon Blanc from locally sourced grapes in Southeastern Australia. Pale lemon-green in colour, this light-bodied wine has ripe Sauvignon Blanc character with mango, passion fruit and white peach flavours, balanced by crisp acidity. With fair length of finish, this is a juicy drink to match roast chicken, or pork with apricots and cream.

Edenvale Expedition Series Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc

• Producer: Edenvale
• Region: Multi-regional Spain
• Country: Spain
• Grape varieties: 70% Verdejo, 30% Sauvignon Blanc
• ABV: Less than 0.5%
• Residual sugar: 35g/1
• Vintage: NV
• Approx. retail price: £7
• Medal: Gold

Edenvale, a no- and low-alcohol Australian producer based in New South Wales, scours the globe for interesting grapes and blends. This Expedition Series white is produced in Spain from local Verdejo, augmented by Sauvignon Blanc. Pale lemon-yellow in hue, this light-bodied wine shows yellow fruits and crisp acidity, balancing the medium sweetness level (35g/1 residual sugar). A good summer picnic match for coronation chicken, the wine will also work with Chinese New Year dim sum.