What Is Non-Alcoholic Wine? Real Wine, Without the Alcohol | POLKA – Polka

Ask most people what non-alcoholic wine is and you'll hear some version of "fancy grape juice". It's a fair guess. For a long time, a lot of what sat on the shelf tasted exactly like that.

But non-alcoholic wine is something else entirely. It starts life as wine, going through fermentation just like a traditional bottle, before the alcohol is carefully removed. Here's how it works, how it differs from juice, and how we make ours in South Australia.

What is non-alcoholic wine?

Non-alcoholic wine (also called de-alcoholised or de-alc wine) is wine that has had its alcohol removed after it's been made.

That last part matters. The grapes are picked, crushed and fermented just like traditional wine. During fermentation, yeast converts grape sugars into alcohol and creates many of the aromas, flavours and complexity we associate with wine.

Once the wine is made, the alcohol is carefully removed. The result is a de-alcoholised wine base that can then be balanced and finished to create a proper grown-up drink, rather than something that started as grape juice.

Our sparkling sits at under 0.5% ABV and is considered non-alcoholic in Australia.

Non-alcoholic wine vs grape juice: what's the difference?

It comes down to one important step: fermentation.

Grape juice is pressed without going through alcoholic fermentation, so it retains more of its natural grape sugars and typically tastes sweet, fruity and, well, like juice.

De-alcoholised wine is fermented first. During fermentation, yeast converts grape sugars into alcohol while developing many of the aromas, flavours and complexity we associate with wine.

The alcohol is then carefully removed. While de-alcoholisation can also affect some of the wine's aroma, flavour and body, you're starting with the complexity and structure created through winemaking rather than unfermented grape juice.

That's why a well-made de-alc sparkling can be crisp, dry and complex, while sparkling grape juice is an entirely different kind of drink.

How is the alcohol removed?

There are a few different ways to de-alcoholise wine, all with the same challenge: removing the alcohol while protecting as much of the wine's character as possible.

We use low-temperature distillation. By working at a lower temperature, the alcohol can be removed more gently, helping us preserve as much of the wine's aroma, flavour and character as possible.

From there, we carefully rebuild flavour and balance before adding the finishing touches that make POLKA, POLKA.

How we make POLKA sparkling

We set out to make a non-alcoholic sparkling that could hold its own in the wine fridge. It took 12 months of research and development to get there.

It starts with a South Australian cuvée. Our De-Alc Lilly Pilly Sparkling begins with a blend of 11 white wine varietals, carefully selected to create the right flavour, structure and texture after de-alcoholisation.

The alcohol comes out gently. We use low-temperature distillation to carefully remove the alcohol while protecting as much of the wine's character as possible.

Then we add something only Australia could. Native Australian botanicals help us build flavour, balance and a distinctly POLKA finish:

De-Alc Lilly Pilly Sparkling is lifted with wild-harvested Lilly Pilly. Crisp, dry and naturally tart, with a clean finish.
De-Alc Sparkling Rosé gets its depth from Davidson Plum. Full and fresh, with juicy strawberry, raspberry and plum notes, a dry finish and never too sweet.

Every bottle is made locally in South Australia.

Does non-alcoholic wine taste like traditional wine?

The honest answer: it depends on the wine.

Alcohol contributes body, warmth and texture to wine, so removing it changes the way a wine tastes and feels. That's why the base wine, the de-alcoholisation process and what happens afterwards matter so much.

For POLKA, we start with wine selected specifically for de-alcoholisation, remove the alcohol gently, then use native Australian botanicals to build flavour and balance back into the finished drink.

The result isn't about pretending the alcohol was never removed. It's about making a genuinely good sparkling wine in its own right: crisp, dry, layered and something you'd actually want to pour.

But don't take our word for it. Chill a bottle, pour it into your nicest glass and decide for yourself.

Who drinks non-alcoholic wine?

More people than you might think.

Some people are cutting back. Some are driving. Some have an early morning. Some are pregnant or breastfeeding and looking at their options. And plenty of people simply don't feel like drinking alcohol that day.

Whatever the reason, nobody should miss the toast.

How to serve it

On its own. Well chilled, in a flute, coupe or your favourite wine glass. Nothing else needed.

The POLKA Spritz. Pour 40ml Non-Alc Italian Aperitif over plenty of ice, add 100ml De-Alc Lilly Pilly Sparkling and finish with a splash of soda and a slice of dried orange.

The Booze-Free French 75. Pour a shot of Non-Alc Botanical Spirit with a squeeze of fresh lemon, top with De-Alc Lilly Pilly Sparkling and finish with a twist of lemon peel.

Your questions, answered

Is non-alcoholic wine completely alcohol-free?
Not always. Our de-alcoholised sparkling contains less than 0.5% ABV and is considered non-alcoholic in Australia. If you need to avoid alcohol completely for medical, religious or personal reasons, our 0.0% Botanical Spirit and Italian Aperitif may be a better choice.

Can I drink non-alcoholic wine while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Our de-alcoholised sparkling contains less than 0.5% ABV. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or have been advised to avoid alcohol, we recommend speaking with your healthcare professional about what's right for you.

How much sugar is in POLKA sparkling?
Our De-Alc Lilly Pilly Sparkling has 4.8g of sugar per 100ml, while our De-Alc Sparkling Rosé has 4.6g per 100ml.