GIESEN 0%

Giesen have finally released a non-alcoholic wine to complement their alcohol-filled range and I am living for it! They hail from New Zealand in the Marlborough region which is known for hosting some of the world’s best in when it comes to winemaking. For those who want to learn a little more about the Giesen brand I’ve put together the FAQ below which should answer most of your questions.

What does the “0%” in Giesen 0% stand for?

I mean, you can probably take an educated guess at this one, but it’s simply referring to the fact that this is a wine that contains 0% alcohol. Well, technically it contains less than 0.5% which is a miniscule enough portion to safely (and legally) refer to it as having zero alcohol.

Many fruits and other foods actually contain 0.5% alcohol volume (or more) so if you’re worried about ingesting trace amounts of the stuff you’d have to give up bananas, select soy sauce brands, and even some soft drinks.

How long have the Giesen brothers been making wine?

For the past four decades, the Giesen brothers have made the Marlborough region in New Zealand their winemaking playground. With a history of sommeliers and vineyard owners in their family tree, brothers Marcel, Alex and Theo moved to New Zealand from Germany in 1981 and set up shop just outside of Christchurch. At the time, their new home was the world’s southern-most situated vineyard.

What started with a first vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has blossomed into a range of different wines that people all across the globe know and love.

What is it about Marlborough that makes it the perfect winemaking region?

British wine writer Oz Clarke  once wrote that New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is "arguably the best in the world” and I have to agree.

The Marlborough climate is generally warm and sunny throughout summer and autumn, resulting in a lengthy growing season. Cool nights with sea breezes bring temperature variation that’s perfect for producing characteristically great wines.

The soil in the region is suited to growing crisp, fresh and delicious fruits that come together to craft incredible full-bodied and well-balanced wine.

Which Giesen 0% wines does Sans Drinks stock?

For now, Sans Drinks stocks only the Giesen 0% Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but you can rest assured that as soon as I hear even the slightest murmurings of a new addition to the Giesen non-alc family I’ll be stocking my shelves with it for you to enjoy.

What does the Giesen 0% Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc taste like?

Because of the gentle wine removal method utilised to make this non-alc wine, you can expect to taste, feel and smell all the same amazing qualities as a regular Sauv Blanc from the Giesen range.

The crisp, refreshing characteristics are evident from the first sip with tastes of zingy lime, zesty lemon shortbread, juicy redcurrant and blackcurrant and sweet passionfruit bursting through. A bright, dry finish takes the flavour to a whole new level. You really do have to try it to believe it.

What are the benefits of drinking alcohol-free wine?

Benefits of drinking dealcoholised or alcohol-free wine include:

-          No hangover

-          No long-term health risks

-          No embarrassing drunken mishaps

-          A healthier lifestyle

-          Clarity and the option to drive home after a few drinks

Plus many, many more!

In particular, the Giesen 0% Sauv Blanc contains only 16 calories per serving, which means 80% less calories per serve than a traditional 12.5% alc/vol Sauvignon Blanc. There’s also 48% less sugar per serving than the closest alcoholic version of this beverage.

How is the alcohol removed from Giesen’s non-alcoholic wine?

Giesen start by crafting their signature Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. They then follow a highly advanced process to remove the alcohol while keeping the aroma and taste of the original wine.

An innovative “spinning cone” method is used to separate the aroma from the alcohol, which allows it to be re-added after the alcohol is gently removed.

This process ensures the taste, feel, look and smell of the alcohol-free wine is of an equal quality to its alcoholic counterpart. How clever is that?

What occasions or foods is the Giesen 0% Sauv Blanc best suited for?

Well, any occasion really. That’s the best thing about a great alcohol-free white wine. You can drink it at a work lunch, you can gift it to a non-drinker for their birthday, you can celebrate throughout Ocsober or Dry July – whenever you feel a hankering for a delicious Sauv, it’s there for you.

It pairs super well with fresh, seasonal salads and different linguine recipes. Clams and mussels are also a great accompaniment to this dry white wine. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not use it as a base for a fruity cocktail? Take some strawberries, lemon, mint and some mixers and go to town!

What’s next for the Giesen 0% range?

I’d love to be able to provide an update on this but Giesen are yet to let slip what they plan on doing with the 0% range as yet. I seriously cannot wait to add more of their wines to the store as they create them. The Marlborough NZ winemaking region is one of my all-time favourites, so I have all my fingers crossed that Giesen have some more non-alc options in the works. If I find out that they do, you’ll be the first to know!