On CTV’s National News, we discuss the growing trend called Dry-ish January for those who want to either moderate or eliminate their alcohol consumption.
Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.
How big is this trend?
Market research shows that 46% of Gen Z participated in Dry January last year, with Millennials and Gen X at about 20%. Even more are choosing “Dry-ish” or “Damp” January with low alcohol wines.
A whopping 94% of those who buy alcohol-free wines also buy traditional wines. This category is expected to reach US $30 billion this year.
What’s driving this trend?
There are far more choices in low- and no-alcohol wines, beers and spirits that are incredibly well-made now.
From the industry reports I’ve read, some of it also ties into the clean lifestyle trend such as clean eating, clean beauty and other clean products that purport not to have toxic or unnecessary chemicals in them. Consumers are more aware of what we’re putting on and into our bodies. Regular wine doesn’t have ingredient labels yet, but the nonalcoholic kind does, showing calories, sugar and other content.
Why is this trend so strong with Gen Z?
I think that every generation likes to distance itself from the previous one. As a Gen Xer, I was never drawn to the harder spirits or beer of my Boomer parents. My Gen Z son doesn’t drink at all.
Not only does he have a wider range in dealcoholized drinks, but he also has far more choices in non-alcoholic fermented drinks like kombucha, a fizzy, fermented non-alcoholic drink typically made with either green or black tea, kefir, fermented milk or water with kefir grains that has more than 60 probiotics, and alcohol-free drinks with adaptogens that have herbs, roots and other plants (like mushrooms) that are believed to reduce stress.
There’s also more choice now for legal and illegal recreational drugs, including cannabis in different formats, psilocybin or magic mushrooms, the favourite of tech and movie moguls, ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects as well as well a dizzying array of illegal drugs.
What are some other reasons or occasions driving this trend?
Dealcoholized wines are ideal for lunch meetings when you don’t have time for an afternoon nap afterwards, or when you’re the designated driver or some of your guests are.
There are also health reasons, such as those who are pregnant and those who have medical conditions or who are on medications that don’t mix with alcohol.
Others don’t drink for religious reasons so I always keep some on hand. Personally, I do enjoy them and they’re a great way to pace myself during an evening when I alternate between them and regular wines.
What should we look for on the label?
A bonus is that many of these wines have an ingredient label on the back so you can also get information about serving sizes, calories and sugar levels.
Wines labeled “dealcoholized” might still contain a tiny amount of alcohol (usually less than 0.5%). If you want completely alcohol-free wine, look for “alcohol-free” on the label and/or 0% alcohol by volume (abv).
As a wine critic, are there certain dealcoholized wines you recommend for those new to the category?
Yes, try Ones from BC, Giesen from New Zealand, Pure Vision from Australia, and St.Regis from France.
You can order all of these online and have them shipped to your door since they don’t carry the restrictions that alcohol does.
Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand
Giesen 0% Riesling
New Zealand
Giesen 0% Rosé
New Zealand
Giesen 0% Pinot Grigio
New Zealand
Pure Vision Wines Zero Shiraz
Australia
St. Regis Selection Sauvignon Blanc
France
St. Regis Selection Pinot Noir
France
How do they make low- and no-alcohol wine?
Low alcohol wine is often made by picking the grapes early so that they don’t over-ripen with loads of sugar in them. Sugar gets converted into alcohol during fermentation, so low sugar will give you low alcohol.
For dealcoholized wine, think of it like making decaf coffee: you want to keep the flavour but lose the buzz. We start with regular wine, then gently remove the alcohol either by letting it evaporate or by filtering it through a delicate membrane that only catches the alcohol molecules, letting the flavour and everything else through.
Whether it’s evaporation or filtration, there’s usually a 30% loss in volume of the wine. That’s why dealcoholized wines often cost more than alcoholic wines, which surprises many people who think they should be cheaper because they’re missing an ingredient.
Do low and no-alcohol wines taste different?
Low-alcohol wines tend to be refreshing and zesty, since alcohol provides both body and heat. It’s like the difference in weight between whole milk and skim milk.
Are certain types of dealcoholized wines better than others?
In my opinion, the best dealcoholized wines are sparkling wines since effervescence adds body and unoaked white wines like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc have zesty acidity to give them more oomph.
Dry red wines are more of a struggle as you’re missing both alcohol and sugar without the help of bubbles and acid. However, I’ve discovered several that I like.
Thank you, Natalie. Where can we find you and these wines online?
Where can we find you and these wines online?
On Instagram, you can find me posting wine reviews and tips at:
Online, my website is nataliemaclean.com.
Posted with permission of CTV.
