Nearly 10 years ago, Bravus Brewing Co. became North America’s first nonalcoholic craft brewery. In April. the Anaheim-based brewery unveiled its first foray into the world of wine with Wine0 (pronounced “wine-oh”), a low ABV, or low alcohol by volume, sparkling rosé.
The beverage, found in candy-red cans, is a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes with a fruity strawberry and black cherry taste.
“When we look at what’s going on in alcohol, wine is in a bit of decline,” said Philip Brandes, founder and owner of Bravus. “Our thought was, one, it’s generally expensive and, two, it’s a little pretentious — two things our younger drinkers don’t like.”
Indeed, younger generations, whose first introduction into the world of forbidden libations are usually of the Fireball or Coors variety, are rarely keen on the complex and at times pompous and self-aggrandizing canon of wine. Such appreciation, at least in the United States, often takes time.
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But Wine0 kicks things off with fun. The can’s color is meant to evoke a red Solo Cup. The taste is fruit-forward, but not too sweet. It comes in four packs. And the beverage undergoes a wine making process that keeps the resulting alcohol under 0.5% ABV. A 2018 Berenberg Research report concluded that Gen Z (anyone born between 1997 and 2012) are imbibing 20 percent less alcohol than millennials, who are drinking less than Gen X and Boomers did at their age. Producing a zippy wine drink, especially one associated with daytime fun (see: “rosé all day” branding at your nearest wine shop or gift boutique), just made sense to Brandes.
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“I wanted to come out with something that was fun, approachable and the opposite of snooty. It’s more like a party wine,” he said.
Wine0 stands apart from other nonalcoholic or alcohol-free wines, which are usually accomplished by fermenting wine to full strength before stripping away the alcohol. Instead, Brandes, who has a background in technology, worked with a molecular biologist to develop a process to modify yeast while tinkering with other variables, like temperature, sugar and more, that results in a low ABV wine. “Not only does this lend the drink a better mouth feel, but also helps with shelf stability,” he said.
Brandes goes on to say that he hopes to soon release a non-alcoholic pinot noir and chardonnay.
Bravus Brewing’s Wine0 ($12.99-19.99 for a 4-pack of 12-ounce can) can be found online or at Walmart locations nationwide.