Lussory Organic Non Alcoholic Merlot, Spain

Alcohol-free red is the hardest trick in the category to pull off. Take out the alcohol and you take out much of what gives red wine its body and warmth, which is why so many examples taste like thin fruit juice. Lussory gets closer than most. It is made in Spain from organically grown Merlot, fermented in the normal way, and only then has its alcohol removed under vacuum so that the aromas survive.

What remains is blackberry, blueberry, plum and a little raspberry, in a lighter frame than a conventional Merlot. It isn't pretending to be a Saint-Émilion, and it would be unfair to judge it as one. Taken as what it is, a properly made 0.0% red for drivers, dry months or simply a quiet evening, it is very good indeed. A little cooling does it no harm, and it is happy with or without food.

At a glance: Merlot · Spain · 0.0% ABV · certified organic · vegan · lighter-bodied red

We are the official Lussory distributor for Ireland and Northern Ireland, with eco-friendly delivery across NI, the UK and Ireland.