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TNWG Wine Times: Ep 55: No and Low Alcoholic Drinks

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ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS


💥 Wine Waddle 2.0 💥


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What is the Wine Waddle?



  • It is a walk and a drink with like minded South Yorkshire business folk who want to network.

  • It supports local hospitality, by visiting new and different locations around Sheffield.

  • Part of the small donation to join goes to a charity!

  • It starts the weekend in the correct way, 3pm onwards on a Friday

  • If you come down you can 'PAY ON ARRIVAL' too if required.


Friday 17th October is the next one - book here for your ticket: https://www.thenorthernwineguy.co.uk/event-details/wine-waddle-2-0


PAD 12 - Wine and Cheese Evening - TUESDAY 28TH OCTOBER


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It is the SECOND Wine and Cheese Evening to be held at Pad12 Wine and Gin Bar.


Come down to one of the best wine bar locations in the city and enjoy a fun filled Wine and Cheese paired session!




ROTHERHAM TITANS - First Business Club Event


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The Northern Wine Guy is the host for the FIRST EVER Titans Business Club Event - Wednesday 29th October!


Grab your tickets for what is going to be an exciting Wine and Cheese paired session at the Titans Business Club!




The Wine and Cheese Network - October Edition



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Wine. Cheese. Networking.


We know it is the best way of networking! Get your ticket to the best way to networkin in Sheffield.


The charity is agreed for 10% of the ticket sales but we are after a KEYNOTE SPEAKER - so if that is you or you know someone who would be interest - let me know.




Wine and Tapas at The Library


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Quite possibly the most underrated location in Sheffield. If you haven't been, you will be amazed that this place exists!


The Library is an incredible location for what will be an incredible evening, with tapas courses paired with wines, as we enjoy a Date Night for all. Get yourself down and buy tickets either directly via The Library or via this link:


OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:



  • SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER - Seven Hills Whisky Festival - come and see the best whisky festival in the North, maybe the UK: https://sevenhillswhiskyfestival.co.uk/

  • TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER - Sheffield B2B Expo - Based at DoubleTree in the City, my stand will be there!



Parched and Non-Alcoholic Drinks


If you had spoken to me not much more than 12 months ago, I would have told you that there was little point in these 'No and Low' drinks and that I couldn't believe it would come to fruition. 


Not because I didn't think there was a market for them, but I struggled to see the logic of wanting to pay the same price as those with alcohol when the follow through was nothing more than fruit juice (as I head to my bottle of cordial numerous times a day and many times less in price).


HOWEVER.... maybe I am coming round to it ever so slightly.


Now, let me be clear, before I hear from many people telling me that I am shooting myself in the foot, I am still much more of an advocate for alcoholic drinks and that will never change whilst I still am on the planet, BUT maybe, just maybe, there is room for both outside of the month of January - which largely is hospitality's least favourite month of the year!



PARCHED


What is Parched I hear you say? 


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Parched is the latest no and low alcohol trade event that took place just last week in London and designed by Tom Surgey to look at the non-alcoholic drinks world from a different lens. Ranging from wines, beers, teas, kombucha, spirits to cocktails and soft drinks, this showcased some real producer potential and something which I do believe will capture the UK on-trade market.


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Set in the stunning Crypt on the Green in London, it was a perfect setting for what showcased not only masterclasses but non alcoholic cocktails paired with nibbles and so much more. Now, I know that some will think I am talking with way too much excitement or vigour around this sector of the drinks market and I understand the scepticism too, given I have been trying non-alcoholic wines for the last 5-6 years without much interest.


Yet there is an emergence of non-alcoholic drinks which are really shining brightly. Gone are the days of that lacking of depth or the fruit forward, almost Ribena-esque feel to a non-alcoholic wine and in comes a new breed.


Indeed, wandering around the trade tasting and speaking to producers, there has been a vast increase in technology of late that has seen incredible advances in the shaping of these non-alcoholic products. I've always very much been a fan of ZENOWINE for my 0% wines and I continue to fly the flag for them, they are doing tremendous things, not just with sparkling and whites but REDS, yes REDS too. 


Meanwhile, producer Bolle Wine & Dine have now found and are working with a yeast which when it consumes sugars does NOT produce alcohol....WHAT? I know, mind blown... 🤯and the reaction from the on-trade has been impressive too - with a whole host of Michelin starred establishments rushing to take Bolle products in through their doors too!


If I am honest with you, my focus was less on wine. I know, I've said it. But I went to the event looking for a change in thought process and view of 0% spirits and potentially 0% red wines. 


Did I find what I was looking for?


Maybe naively, I didn't think about the mass market who already like 0% alcohol drinks, the mocktails that we see on menus often pass me by BUT my mind has been opened to the possibility of new ideas. 


The reality is that many of us do not drink, whether it be on medical grounds, religious beliefs or just a preference not to do so. Couple that with the designated driver and there is largely an untapped market which is still being undervalued, especially in the North of England. Yes, we do have 0% beers, although typically these are just bottles or lack of choice is not ideal but how many 0% cocktails ready-made or 0% spirits that you could have with mixers?


So in answer to my initial question, I think I have done just that. I found the producer, Kahol at Parched who specialises in full strength spirits that when put through a second fermentation denature the alcohol down to 0%. Brilliant to see their versions of 'Islay Scotch', 'Speyside Scotch', 'Kentucky Bourbon' and 'Aged Rum', there was even time for a try of their 'Tequilla' too - the Paloma Tequilla a particularly grapefruit orientated special. 


I also found from Kore Drinks some exceptional 0.5% Agave and Functional Rum from the producer Smiling Wolf and of course my favourites for wine from ZENOWINE .


The biggest thing now is can we then adopt this more frequently both in everyday life and in the on-trade, especially the pub culture in the UK? I think we can, but the proof will be in...I guess not the pudding but the drinks demand?


If you are in South Yorkshire as a drinks establishment and would like connections to these products, do let me know. I will be happy to showcase and introduce you to them.


👉 The Northern Wine Guy 'SHOP' is OPEN 👈


Following the success of TNWG Wine Explorer Boxes in October, there is now a 'Shop' open on The Northern Wine Guy website.


It's not an exhaustive list and it doesn't list everything in stock. It also doesn't allow you to click and buy because it is based predominantly on those who live in Yorkshire and S postcodes.


However, you can submit wines that you have tried or would like and the order will come through via an email - mixed minimum of 6 bottles for FREE delivery to S postcodes!

Head over to the website now to take a look: 


If something isn't there and you would like something - then just let me know - I have MANY, MANY suppliers and direct wine relationships - we can source you wine!


That's all from me this week folks - the absence of 'Markets Chat' is mostly because people have asked to keep it more on drinks than financial markets and fine wine - but happy to bring it back if the audience would like to see it too!

Just let me know.

Best Regards

Andy a.k.a. The Northern Wine Guy 


 
 
 

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