Eisberg doubles alcohol-free capacity with new energy efficient unit

Alcohol-free wine brand Eisberg will welcome a new, more energy-efficient dealcoholisation unit to its winery this month.

The new unit will double production of alcohol-free wine as demand increases all across the world. It is an industry leading model, requiring lower temperatures and less energy to produce the same high quality alcohol-free wine.

The method of using lower temperatures allows Eisberg to retain more of the original aromas of their wines, increasing the character of the drink, despite the removal of the alcohol.

The new unit in Trier, Germany will work alongside the business’s existing one by August and will produce 40,000 litres (more than 55,000 bottles) of alcohol free wine daily, allowing the company to double output.

“During the dealcoholisation process, the hardest part is lowering alcohol levels from 0.5 per cent to 0.05 per cent,” said Dan Harwood, Managing Director of SW Wines Europe.

“The new unit uses vacuum distillation to remove the alcohol from the wine, allowing the alcohol content to gently fall below 0.05 per cent.

“We continue to use vacuum distillation because we can get there without too much energy consumption or excessive heating, making it better for the environment versus alternative methods.

“Removing the alcohol from wine is like trying to unmake a piece of toast. It’s not easy, and opting for more gentle methods makes a big difference to help keep a realistic and enjoyable wine taste.”

Alongside the new unit, Schloss Wachenheim has installed 5000 solar panels, so that the initial energy used for the vacuum distillation process is greener, covering 30 per cent of the production needs, as part of the company’s shift towards more environmentally friendly processes.

The new unit will almost double the possible output for Eisberg, increasing the potential for experimentation and new product development.

Harwood said: “As the alcohol free industry matures, it’s important that there is an increasing amount of choices for the shopper to pick from – and we can add to this thanks to our new unit.

“With more opportunity to be flexible and reactive, we can keep up with drinking trends to provide quality alcohol free versions of more wine varieties.

“People who want to opt for an alcohol-free version shouldn’t have to compromise on taste or preference, and Eisberg is working to ensure that ‘settling’ for a bottle of alcohol-free wine is a thing of the past.”