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ALCOHOL-FREE<br />
– LOOKING AHEAD –<br />
Mathilde Boulachin<br />
to carefully read the label to differentiate between the<br />
two. Lastly, the name itself, ‘Chavin’ carries a promise<br />
that is not just subliminal. “Wine consumption has a<br />
strong social element and so we must allow consumers to<br />
connect with others or like others, without setting them<br />
apart”, explains Boulachin. The fact that her best-seller is<br />
a sparkling drink is no coincidence!<br />
Non-alcoholic products that do not come under the<br />
wine category do not enjoy the same exemption from<br />
nutritional statements as wine, which therefore have to<br />
be included. Similarly, they have a five-year shelf life,<br />
and the concept of bottle ageing and ideal drinking<br />
window is irrelevant – these products do not mature. But<br />
what bothers Boulachin most is the unfair competition.<br />
In some of her markets – 80% of them overseas –<br />
particularly for online sales and marketing, rival firms<br />
can call the products ‘de-alcoholised wine’, whereas she<br />
is not entitled to use the word ‘wine’.<br />
CHAVIN FOCUSES ON SOCIAL AS WELL AS<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL R<strong>ESP</strong>ONSIBILITY<br />
The company is mindful to take on board the concerns<br />
expressed by its customers and has therefore developed<br />
a range of organic wines with evocative names such as<br />
‘Greenia’. The labels emphasise their health credentials<br />
by containing ‘no added sulphites’. The Opia brand,<br />
developed for Monoprix in France, stresses that the<br />
organic wine contains ‘no pesticide residues’. Also, the<br />
wines contain no animal products and are entitled to<br />
use the Vegan logo. The company similarly publicises<br />
issues such as ecology and a sustainable economy. Japan,<br />
the USA, Canada and Northern Europe pay particular<br />
attention to these issues. Bottles bound for Sweden and<br />
China are exported by train, which has a better carbon<br />
footprint than air travel.<br />
Loris Casonato, a winegrower in DOC Prosecco<br />
IRIS VIGNETI:<br />
ALCOHOL-FREE ITALIAN BUBBLES<br />
Located in the heart of the DOC Prosecco area, Loris<br />
Casonato farms some 20 hectares and also has contracts<br />
with a few surrounding vineyards. The winemaker<br />
produces the famous Venetian sparkling wine, but about<br />
ten years ago he also started to produce a non-alcoholic<br />
60 SUMMER 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE
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