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A selection from Sans Drinks

JUST SAY NO

WORDS STEVE LESZCZYNSKI

IF YOU WERE asked to name which sector of the drinks market was projected to show greater than 16 per cent growth between 2020 and 2024, what would your answer be? Craft beer? Natural wine? Perhaps even craft spirits? The answer is none of the above.

According to the IWSR (International Wine and Spirits Record), the non-alcoholic and low-alcohol-volume sector will outperform all comers with a projected growth of up to 31 per cent by 2024.

This growth refl ects the pattern seen with gluten-free and meat-free products as consumers are now, more than ever, more conscious of healthier lifestyle choices.

Before we go on, it’s important to clarify the difference between non-alcoholic drinks and alcohol-removed drinks. Non-alcoholic drinks speak for themselves but alcohol-removed drinks have been made the same way as alcoholised products, but then the alcohol is removed via reverse osmosis or vacuum distillation. As technology improves, so too will the quality of these products.

Not all drinks labelled non-alcoholic are actually 100 per cent clear either. Many products sit at 0.5 per cent, which still enable them to be classifi ed as non-alcoholic.

The boom in the market has seen people like Irene Falcone set up her business Sans Drinks. Based in Sydney, she boasts more than 500 products in her store. The expansion of her online business propelled her to take the next step with the launch of Australia’s fi rst non-alcohol bottle shop based in Sydney’s Freshwater. It’s fair to say it won’t be the only store of that nature we will see in the future.

I was fortunate to taste some of Irene’s products recently and I walked away suitably impressed. The Thomson & Scott Noughty Organic Sparkling Chardonnay NV ($25), imported from Germany and made with chardonnay from Spain, is touted as the best sparkling in the Sans Drinks range. Throw it in a fl ute and there’s a good chance your friends wouldn’t know it’s alcohol free – except the dancing won’t get worse with the more you have. Tasting of golden apples with a dab of sweetness, it is clean and crisp with a dry fi nish and is a more than respectable option.

The 1920 Wines Alcohol Removed Pinot Grigio 2021 ($14.95) comes from the Riverina in New South Wales. A wine that offers good refreshment, this will bring a new meaning to poolside drinks. Highlighted by green apple, green

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Non-alcoholic craft beer by Sobah

melon and pear juice, the fruit and acid are well balanced.

Sans Drinks also has a large range of non-alcoholic spirits, beers and cocktails. Carrying a range of self-named cocktail mixers, the Ms Sans Cosmopolitan ($24.95) already comes pre-mixed with non-alcoholic vodka so just pour, garnish and enjoy! Like a classic cosmo, think orange peel, a squeeze of lime and a fl ood of bitter cranberries. With only three grams per 100 millilitres of sugar as well as being gluten free and vegan friendly, this classy take on a cocktail ticked the boxes admirably – and there was no dreaded hangover on the horizon.

The non-alcoholic craft beer scene has also surged in popularity in recent years – none more so than the past 12 months. Data analysts IRI suggest this section of the market went from $4.5 million net worth in 2020 to more than $15 million by the end of 2021 – that’s some growth! Just take a look at the offerings now available on the supermarket shelves.

All the major brewing companies have leapt at this sector but this hasn’t deterred Clinton and Lozen Schultz, founders of Sobah. Driving the non-alcoholic craft beer scene for two years prior, this First Nations company from Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast was the pioneer in non-alcoholic craft beer before all-comers jumped on board with their market muscle.

But Clinton welcomes this with a wry smile saying, “They attract the consumers to the market then they come to us to try something good.” And he’s right, Sobah’s unique take on craft beer is unmatched. Interestingly, he notes the biggest growth in sales is in the 18-to-35-years age bracket who are racing to such products. How good!

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Irene Falcone from Sans Drinks

Sobah’s Lozen and Clinton Schultz

Once a beer drinker himself, Clinton gave up alcohol seven years ago but all he came across to drink at social events was soda water and lemon/lime or sugary drinks. Inspired by his culture, he set about infusing bush tucker into his beers and he has done so with great success. All ingredients are ethically sourced and the beers made are chemical and preservative free.

My favourite in the range is the Finger Lime Cerveza. Insanely refreshing, it slides down all too easily. Sobah’s Lemon Aspen Pilsner is light and crisp, fresh and fruity with a herbaceous twist. Lemongrass meets citrus in an easy drinking and refreshing beer. While the Wattleseed Gold Ale is vegan and gluten friendly. Malty with a distinct nutty aroma, it’s a beer to ease you into those cooler autumn nights. Licks of sweet spice and Dutch chocolate cap it off well. But it’s the Pepperberry IPA that has made waves, securing a legion of fans and landing at number 69 at the recent GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers.

But if you think the non-alcoholic beers won’t fl oat your boat given many commercial releases are thin and lacking personality, it’s best you try Heaps Normal Quiet XPA. Despite being relatively new on the scene and launching in July 2020, it was recently voted number 20 in its debut appearance of all 2238 craft beers submitted from 280 breweries Australia wide for GABS. The people have spoken. So fresh and satisfying, you can enjoy these en masse and then drive home. Bursting with tropical fruit and fl ashes of citrusy tang, a soft malt fi nish rounds out a classic beer. It’s quite something!

With well over 600 stockists nationwide, the team at Heaps Normal has recently released a new beer – Another Lager. A great take on this classic style, crack it post swim or even with a parmy.

It’s clear that in recent times being ‘sober curious’ is now okay. Bravo!

Heaps Normal non-alcoholic beer

“the non-alcoholic and low-alcoholvolume sector will outperform all comers with a projected growth of up to 31 per cent by 2024. ”

Thomson & Scott has a winner with this non-alcoholic wine

AUTUMN WINE PICKS:

CLARE VALLEY IN THE ZONE – MISS ZILM RIESLING 2021, $27 It’s zippy and personable, bright and fresh – all things you want in a riesling as you cool your heels on a warm aft ernoon. An excellent wine for little outlay.

UNDERRATED – JOHN WALLACE WINES SISTERS CHARDONNAY 2021, $35 Hunter Valley chardonnay is so underrated. There is so much happening here. It calls you over slowly. Layers of pleasure interest await. Ripples of caramel, burnt fig and barbecued peach shimmer. It just goes on. Impressive!

DANCY SPARKLES – HOWARD PARK JETÉ BRUT NV, $38 This is a wonderfully structured and balanced sparkling. Free-run chardonnay and pinot noir juice sees aged French oak and stainless steel for fermentation before blending, then sits on lees for 18 months. It’s a winner!

A SURPRISE PACKET – DR PLONK THE GOOD DOCTOR’S TONIC 2012, $40 What a cracker we have here! It’s a big, voluptuous number. Generous doses of liquorice bullets, dark chocolate, fruit cake and pretty scents of violets are enough to send you into a spin. Just magic given its age. Well played Doctor.

SUPERB – THISTLEDOWN SHE’S ELECTRIC GRENACHE 2021, $65 She’s Electric alright! Vibrant and pretty, just kick back and enjoy the ride. The fruit glides through the mouth. It might even be floating – so good. It’s long and persistent and so damn moreish. Big love for this.

RISING STAR – ARILA GARDENS QUARTZ AND GARDENS SHIRAZ 2020, $85 All rise. What a superstar we have here! Handled with white gloves it would seem such is the precision. Sure it’s young, but oh my, embrace this with two hands and savour every drop. Bigger named labels would chase more than twice the money for the quality off ered here. Sublime.

UNRIVALLED – YELLAND AND PAPPS LIMITED CUVÉE ROUSSANNE 2016, $92 Find me a better producer of roussanne in Australia – I dare you. The consideration, judicious handling and layers of interest in this wine are simply incredible. Brace yourself for a joyous journey. An outstanding wine hands down.

STEVE LESZCZYNSKI is a wine writer, wine dinner host and MC. Apart from writing for his website QwineReviews.com, Steve contributes to Halliday Wine Companion Magazine, Vinomofo, Wine Business Magazine and Grapegrower Winemaker Magazine. Steve is a passionate supporter of the Queensland wine industry. - Largest Gaming Room in Noosa - Entertainment Weekly - 3 Bars - Kids Room - Bottle Shop - TAB - Members Promotions - Courtesy Buses - Functions DRINK.

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