Subscriber login Close [x]
remember me
You are not logged in.

Tesco and Felix Solis collaborate on low ABV range

Published:  21 June, 2017

Tesco has launched a new range of low alcohol wines which it intends to become a staple on its shelves.

The launch - a partnership with leading Spanish producer Felix Solis - marks the first time that the grocer’s customers will be able purchase low alcohol wine in its stores that are nearly alcohol free - less than 0.5%.

Tesco is launching the wines in 700 stores nationwide in a move which could mark a turning point for the low alcohol wine market which has struggled to break through despite the increasing trend towards moderation among consumers.

According research from mindful drinking initiative, Club Soda, 1.5 million adults in London are currently moderating their drinking.

One in five adults in the UK don’t drink at all, and millennials are drinking less - one in four of 16 to 24 year olds are teetotal.

Tesco’s master of wine, James Davis, pointed to the 18% drop in alcohol consumption over the past decade as the driving factor behind the launch.

He also said that wine needs to keep up with innovations in the beer and ciders markets, which “have put wine firmly in the shade”.

He also pointed to the need for more quality ABV options.

According to the company, the wines have been made using a new “spinning cone” technique that gently removes the alcohol, without sacrificing the aroma, quality or flavour profile.

“Until now, most non-alcoholic wines have been fermented until they reach the point where they are about to turn alcoholic, so the liquid never actually becomes wine, or have the alcohol removed to be replaced with a number of sugars and artificial flavours to bring back the flavours lost through the process,” they said.

“This is the first wine range of its kind sold by a supermarket, which offers customers a real comparable alternative to popular varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache rose and Sauvignon Blanc, without any compromise on taste,” Davis added.

The wines, a Cabernet Tempranillo, a Grenacha-Rosé and a Sauvignon Blanc, have an RRP of £3.

Keywords: