FIn some time ago on the label of some bottles you could read wine “alcohol free” or “without alcohol”. Now it’s no longer possible. The legislation imposes the technical term of “dealculated wine”that is, wine to which alcohol has been removed and therefore no longer has, or has less, alcoholic gradation. In fact it is a non -alcoholic (or almost) drink, which however maintains the taste and characteristics typical of the wine from which it is produced.
2 types of dealculated wine
«In Italy, for the products that arise from the dealculation of the wine there are two categories: completely dealculated if the Alcoholic gradation is less than 0.5% vol. and partially dealculated if the gradation oscillates Between 0.5 and 9% vol. ” explains Martin Foradori Hofstätterowner of the Tenuta J. Hofstätter, one of the first to propose the dealcular in Italy. Until recently, in fact, in our country it was only possible to market it, but not to produce it. Recently, however, a decree has been made that changes things.
What does the new legislation say
The new decreeeven if at the time we write it has not yet been published in the Official Gazettehas finally clarified on how also in our country can be produced dealculated wine. «The Ministry of Agriculture has been activated to offer a clear regulatory framework and in accordance with the European provisions. It has regulated in which factories you can make the dealculation, which practices can be used and how it should be behaved with excise duties, or the alcohol tax »clarifies Martin Foradori Hofstätter. «The limitations to date have been linked to production and not to distribution. Many producers, therefore, have been forced to produce wines dealculated abroad, To then distribute them on the Italian market “clarifies the expert who, since 2014, is one of the pioneers of this drink in Italy, also thanks to the intuition of the son, who at the time studied oenology in Germany.
To produce it no chemistry
How do you produce a “wine” that does not contain alcohol? «It is important to specify that the dealculation procedure is a simple physical process And not chemical, as often erroneously says, “clarifies the expert. «Our alcohol -free wines are produced by submitting the wine to a distillation process, which allow the physical removal of alcohol. It is the vacuum distillationa process that allows to reduce the alcoholic content of the wine, while preserving the delicate aromas of the raw material.
Aromas and quality is maintained
The crucial aspect of vacuum distillation is temperature control. This process allows you to extract alcohol at low temperatures, helping to preserve the aromas of the basic product. That is essential to ensure that dealculated wine maintain sensory qualities Of the raw material, in our case, the Riesling »concludes Martin Foradori Hofstätter which is also an oenologist. There are though Also other dealculation methodssuch as “spin cone” centrifugation and membrane extraction for osmosis.
Because consumers are increasing
If the wine is completely dealculated, in fact, it is a non -alcoholic drink and minors can also drink it. Not only that, not contending alcohol does not involve the risks that this substance has for whom it is pregnantor suffers from certain diseases. Even those who take drugs, If the wine is entirely without alcohol, it must not fear interactions. Same thing for those who after drinking it must get behind the wheel: without alcoholic gradation does not cause that effect of “lack of lucidity” that makes it dangerous to drive. Even who is rodor for religious reasons He does not want to drink alcohol, he can find an excellent alternative in these drinks. A bit like it happens with non -alcoholic beer. Furthermore, the dealcked wine can be a valid option even for those who are attentive to the line: a 0.10 cl glass on average provides about 20 kcal, against about 80 kcal of a “traditional” wine.
I woman © RESERVED REPRODUCTION