Bolle releases ‘world’s first’ lees-aged alcohol-free sparkling wine
Bolle has launched Grand Reserve, the first non-alcoholic sparkling wine to be aged on lees. The producer says the release marks a major technical breakthrough for the category.
Bolle has released Grand Reserve, a no-alcohol sparkling wine aged for nine months on lees — a technique long associated with Champagne but not previously achieved in the alcohol-free sector. The company describes the launch as a milestone for non-alcoholic winemaking.
Grand Reserve Blanc de Blancs NV undergoes Bolle’s secondary fermentation process before spending nine months sur lie. According to the producer, the extended ageing builds a creamy texture and brioche character, delivering depth and complexity without additives.
“The lees ageing transforms the texture, aroma and length,” said Gary Read, CEO at Bolle. “With Grand Reserve, we’ve pushed the boundaries of what non-alcoholic wine can be. At Bolle, we don’t believe in standing still. Our goal is to continually innovate and move the non-alcoholic category closer to the world of fine wine.”
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Traditional technique, alcohol-free format
Crafted from 90% Chardonnay and 10% Silvaner grown in La Mancha, Spain, the wine is de-alcoholised via double column vacuum distillation before being transported cold for re-fermentation. Bolle is the only producer to re-ferment dealcoholised wine, using proprietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and grape juice to build natural structure, flavour and mouthfeel.
The wine spends three months in French oak and nine months on lees. It shows a gold, clear appearance, fine bubbles and an elegant brioche-led nose with notes of apricot, nuts and citrus. The palate is medium-dry with vibrant acidity, medium-plus body and a long finish.
“Every aspect of the Grand Reserve’s character is born from the winemaking process itself,” Read added.
Total production stands at 4,000 bottles. The RRP is £49.99 / $69.99 and it is available to the trade and via Bolle’s website.
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