Lautus Sparkling

Benjamin Franklin will be remembered for many of his famous quotations. "Wine makes daily life easier, more peaceful, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."

Indeed, Benjamin was absolutely correct. However, it is undeniable that there are moments in life when we must temporarily forgo the pleasure of a fine glass of wine (always in pursuit of a greater good). Nevertheless, there is no need for alarm. Everything is under control, and thanks to technological advancements, high-quality non-alcoholic wines have been successfully produced. Among these is Lautus Sparkling, a de-alcoholized wine crafted in South Africa by Lautus wineries.

The creator of this product is the winemaker Reg Holde, current owner of the business, who, after more than a decade of experience, ventured into the realm of non-alcoholic wines in 2017 when his wife was pregnant with their first child. This initiative marked the opening of a new frontier, increasingly sought after by consumers who wish to avoid the effects of alcohol without sacrificing the full flavor of the grape used (in this case, the chardonnay from the Bonnievale region, in the Western Cape province).

In this regard, the production process must be conducted with the utmost care, cherishing every grape and striving to capture and enhance all the varietal aromas. In the case of Lautus Sparkling, the grapes were gently crushed and pressed, then left to rest overnight. The following day, they were transferred to fermentation tanks, where the work of the yeasts began using a selected strain and took place between 14°C and 16°C. After this, Lautus Sparkling was allowed to rest for three months before commencing the second phase, where the alcohol is removed. This step, carried out with spinning cone technology at low temperatures and under vacuum, is critical and handled with exceptional care. Finally, Lautus Sparkling is bottled. At this stage, the wine is carbonated, thus achieving its signature effervescence.