Vinitaly is back for the 58th time

It used to be that Vinexpo in Bordeaux was the standout global wine trade fair. 

Now there are literally dozens of them; multiple Vinexpos, ProWein (on now), the London Wine Fair and, just recently, Wine Paris. 

One of the biggest major global showcase, Vinitaly, returns to the lovely city of Verona for its 58th edition from April 12-15, bringing together producers, buyers and professionals from the global wine and spirits industry. It attracts up to 150,000 annual visitors.

The four days will be dedicated to business, networking and market insights at the international reference event for Italian wine. There might also be some wine tasting. 

Highlights include several halls showcasing the best of Italian regional wines; masterclasses, guided tastings and seminars, networking opportunities and B2B meetings, and a NoLo - Vinitaly Experience. 

 After last year’s pilot project, the No/Low alcohol segment expands with a dedicated exhibition area. 

There will also be a new pavilion entirely dedicated to the world of spirits "designed to create a global connection between wine, spirits and mixology".

Wine tourism will also be showcased: Vinitaly Tourism returns with B2B meetings, conferences, producers, research and case studies dedicated to the development of wine tourism.

Also note Vinitaly and the City, the off-show event dedicated to wine enthusiasts from across Italy.

For more details see www.veronafiere.it

Elton John tickling the NOLO ivories

Veteran rock star Elton John has joined the celebrity drinks circus with the launch of a 0% blanc de blancs "wine"

The British singer-songwriter and his partner David Furnish have unveiled Elton John Zero Blanc de Blancs, a drink made from chardonnay grapes grown in Italy and made in Germany, industry website drinks business reported.

The beverage is being positioned as an alcohol-free alternative to Champagne, prosecco of cava and is being launched in the UK, including at Sainsbury’s supermarkets, priced at £10 (around $20).
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The grapes from northern Italy have been sourced by Liberty Wines co-founder David Gleave MW, drinks business says, while it is made in Germany - which is hotspot for no-alcohol "wine".

Elton's new drinks is fermented but not de-alcoholised, putting in doubt whether it should be categorised as wine.

While most 0% products are created by taking a normal-strength wine and then removing the alcohol, Elton John Zero Blanc de Blancs is made as a 0% ‘wine’ from the outset by fermenting grapes with ‘good’ bacteria that don’t produce any alcohol. Similar to kombucha. 

It also includes green tea extract to add a touch of fine tannin, and has added CO2 to add fizz.

John has a well-publicised struggle with alcohol addiction, which ended in 1990, when he became sober. Furnish gave up alcohol in 2014.

“It really came from something we wanted and needed in our life and in our home,” Furnish said. “Both Elton and I are teetotal, and we love to entertain.”

Its OK to go NoLo: No one feels guilty any more

It is OK to go alcohol free.

No guilt.

The team at Heineken 0.0, which is the best-selling non-alcoholic beer, has revealed that almost three-quarters (72%) of people are confident enough to skip alcohol over the holidays without fear of being judged or excluded. 

A recent study, carried out in five countries in partnership with the author of Sober Curious, Ruby Warrington, shows attitudes are changing fast.

It revealed over two-thirds (67%) of people surveyed now say it's outdated and inappropriate to ask why someone isn't drinking alcohol in 2025.

Also, 81% agree it's acceptable to say "no" to alcohol at festive events - with no explanation required.

"The question 'why aren't you drinking?' belongs firmly in the past," Warrington says.

"People everywhere now feel free to choose if and when they drink alcohol without fearing social pressure or awkwardness. When I coined the term 'sober curious' nearly 10 years ago, the goal was to normalise the choice not to drink – and we're finally here."

It was the second survey in 12 months recording positive attitudes.

Heineken’s partner in its original January study, Charles Spence, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, said: "These two studies show how quickly attitudes shift. Alcohol has been central to social life for generations, but the data now proves moderation is for everyone."

How people plan to celebrate this season also tells a story. 

At least 37% will moderate their intake, 27% plan to abstain altogether, and 1 in 5 will raise a 0.0 beer instead. Gen Z are leading the charge for balance with 30% planning to 'zebra stripe' their drinks, alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic all night.

Fear of missing out has finally gone out of fashion with 86% saying they are comfortable drinking low or no-alcohol options at festive events, and 76% say they don't need alcohol to feel included.

In fact, 90% say they'd support a friend choosing to drink low or no-alcohol versions this festive season - showing social pressure has given way to social acceptance.

# The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 10,001 adults aged 18+ in the UK, US, Spain, Japan and Brazil.

Coopers goes the zero alcohol route

Cult Adelaide brewery Coopers has just released its first no alcohol beer 

Coopers Brewery says its new non-alcoholic beer - Coopers Zero - is designed “to quench the growing thirst
for ‘beer/life balance’ among health-conscious Australian drinkers”.

Packaged in a silver can, Coopers Zero is the latest permanent addition to the Australian family brewery’s portfolio since Coopers Australian Lager was unveiled in 2023. 

 No or lower alcohol (NOLO) is the fastest-growing beer category in Australia, now exceeding light beer in volume and retail value, market research firm Circana says. 

Appealing to health-conscious drinkers, Coopers Zero contains only 49 calories per 375ml can with all the flavour of a full-strength beer, minus the alcohol. 

Coopers managing director Michael Shearer said Coopers Zero would impress drinkers seeking an alternative to full or mid-strength beer.

“More and more Australians want a beer/life balance,” he said.

“We set out to develop and deliver a great-tasting, full flavoured beer to cater for Australians seeking to lower their alcohol intake or switch up their drinking habits.

“Coopers has a proven track record in low alcohol beer and we’ve drawn upon this experience and our 163 years of brewing heritage to create Coopers Zero.

“Our brewing team were determined not to compromise on the renowned quality and taste of a Coopers beer.

“The result is a refreshing, easy-drinking beer with moderate bitterness – a non-alcoholic option brewed in the traditional style and which suits all drinking occasions.”

Coopers Zero will be available nationally in 375ml cans from this month. 

In search of a no-alcohol beer you'd actually want to drink

Australians may be at the forefront of the NOLO movement, but I'm afraid I'm not one of them.

The no and low alcohol trend has grown in popularity exponentially, but I have always found an issue with these increasingly popular beverages: the fact that that they usually do not taste anything like beer or wine.

Another problem is that I am against paying $30-$40 for a bottle of no alcohol spirits. I'd rather have a glass of water (maybe with some cordial). Thanks very much.

So when I was offered the chance to sample low-calorie and no-alcohol beers from Son Of A Nun I was not exactly optimistic.

But I took my "mindful drinking” moment and was pleasantly surprised.

I'm not going to be swapping my Peroni or Asahi Dry anytime soon, But the no-alcohol beer actually tasted beer-like, tangy and refreshing, and the low-carb option was actually very decent. I wouldn't have picked it. 

I could certainly see myself having a couple of these if was the dedicated driver - or on a serious diet.




Maybe I could be sold on "moderate consumption without sacrificing on flavour".

The Son Of A Nun Low Carb Lager (4.2% ABV, 90 calories) comes in a six pack for $22 and Zero Alcohol (81 calories) in a four-pack for $11.

They are available at independent retailers with local stockists listed here https://www.sonofanun.com.au/stockists.

So who, exactly, are Australian Beer Company, who make Son Of  A Nun?

The clue is in the address: Yenda, NSW.

Which is the home town of Australia's biggest wine label: [yellowtail].

It turns out that both brands are owned and operated by some of the smartest operators in the drinks business: the Casella family.

Casella Family Brands (CFB) took full ownership of Australian Beer Co. after Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) decided to sell its interest in the business two years ago.

“ABCo is an exciting business led by a state-of-the-art brewery, and we welcomed the opportunity to acquire full ownership,” said John Casella.

They are certainly doing a good job with Son of Nun, which might be well worth a try for anyone doing Dry July.

[yellow tail] moves into the NOLO wine space

You know the NOLO craze is getting serious when one of Australia's biggest wine brands enters the fray.

With the "‘live better and healthier" theme very much in vogue for 2023, lower alcohol wines are proliferating. 

Many people are looking to moderate their alcohol consumption.

Enter [yellow tail]'s Pure Bright range, which is not only lower in alcohol (a bit) but also appeals to the calorie conscious.

The [yellow tail] team from Casella Family Brands says that "lower in alcohol drinks are a great option for anyone who wants to be more conscious of their alcohol intake'.

Here's the spiel: "The wines allow people to enjoy and participate in the wine occasion, with the same great taste, just less alcohol and fewer calories."

The range retails for between $8-10 a bottle - which certainly makes it affordable. 

The chardonnay has 85 calories per serving and just 9.6% alc/vol. It has some melon flavours and does taste like wine, unlike some of its NOLO rivals. The 2021 Pinot Noir, meanwhile, would be most acceptable served over ice on a warm day. 

All the wines contain fewer than 100 calories per 150ml serve.

The website is selling the chardonnay, pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc. No fruit source indicated on the labels. There is also a sparkling wine, a shiraz and a pinot noir on offer.

See here for details: https://www.yellowtailpurebright.com/ 

The wines are available at Liquorland and First Choice stores, as well as at some independent outlets.