First of all, the Degré Zéro trade show, the first trade show entirely dedicated to dealcoholized beverages. At the initiative of the company Break Events, which specializes in the organization of professional events for the promotion of wines and spirits, this first event was already looking promising as the show was already sold out more than a week before its opening. 

Taking up residence at the Musée du Vin (Paris 16th) on the eve of the start of Wine Paris, the timing was perfect for both exhibitors and visitors. 

    And the announced success was confirmed! 30min of queuing outside, aisles full of visitors and difficulty to move around! B&S Tech was of course present at this event to present its offer and the latest launches of its customers, but also as a founding member of the No/Low wine collective, partner of the event and which BREAK EVENTS joined in January.

    A success that put all the No/Low players in very good conditions to start Wine Paris the next day! 

    Indeed, Monday, February 12 was the opening of the Vinexpo-Wine Paris 2024 trade show at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center, which is now the unmissable event for the wine trade. Bringing together more than 4000 French and international exhibitors this year, the show is a key moment to observe new market trends and the latest innovations. And if last year the presence of No/Low products was still very shy, this year, it was impossible to miss it! Between a dedicated space within the Be Spirit Pavilion, six masterclasses/round tables that addressed the subject over the three days, nearly forty exhibitors/producers offering a range of dealcoholized wines, and above all the front page of Les Echos Spécial Vin at the opening of the show which headlined: "Wine is taking the wave of alcohol-free", it is no longer possible to ignore this trend!

    Present in the Wine Tech Pavilion, the B&S Tech booth was full for 3 days welcoming producers, buyers, merchants, distributors curious to know more about this trend and especially to taste our latest innovations which prove that alcohol-free wine is no longer a low-end product. 

    This is a strong message that our CEO Stéphane Brière wanted to convey during the round table organized on Wednesday 14 February by the no/low wine collective (of which B&S Tech is a founding member): "Alcohol-free wine is not a by-product of wine". It has been said over and over again, dealcoholized wine brings diversification to the winemakers’ offer to meet consumer expectations and enhance the market. 

A message that seems to be better and better received and understood by the various actors, despite the last detractors. 

    In the end, an extremely positive assessment of these 2 shows for B&S Tech which confirms the potential of the No/Low market in which we have believed for nearly 5 years now. Now it's time to turn the contacts made into new projects and future successes! The year has only just begun, and we are sure that it will be promising for this beautiful No/Low category. 

🍷 Come and meet us at the SITEVI Montpellier exhibition from 28 to 30 November. Want to know more about:
 🚀 The NO/LOW beverage market?
⚙ Production and dealcoholization techniques?
🤝 Our offers and support? 

Come and meet us at our booth or attend one of the 2 conferences we will be speaking on. The full program below: 

Once again this year, B&S Tech participated in the fair with a stand on the WineTech Pavilion! 🍷

Indeed, the show had not forgotten to honor innovative companies in the wine sector and the Wine Tech Perspectives Pavilion was the worthy representative. 

Bringing together about forty start-ups (belonging to the Wine Tech collective) that have developed innovations at different levels (production, processing, conservation, management or distribution), the pavilion was a space entirely dedicated to innovation with conferences, a connected bar and other activities highlighting the future of wine.

B&S Tech was of course one of the start-ups present, in addition to our stand, several animations were planned over the three days of the show:

A tasting of our customers' dealcoholized wines at the connected bar, which showcased the new alcohol-free range from MODERATO – the pioneers of low-no

The passage of our partner winegrowers such as Guillaume de Rosnay for the Zéro de Rochefort or Coralie de Boüard for Prince Oscar

And above all, a round table on the challenges of the new market of dealcoholized wines which was a great success with an audience that had responded to this unique meeting addressing the subject of no-low alcohol in wine. It was an opportunity to have the testimony of producers such as Mathilde Boulachin, founder of Chavin or Sébastien Thomas, co-founder of Moderato but also regulatory bodies with Ignacio Sanchez Recarte of CEEV and Jean-Claude Ruf scientific director at the OIV. 

But what exactly is behind these names? What is allowed and not allowed by the regulations? What are the processes? 

Let's take a moment to go back in detail on this major change for the no-low alcohol wine market.

    To respond to the growing phenomenon of light and alcohol-free wines, the new European Regulation 2021/2117 of 2 December 2021 has created two new labelling terms for wines that have undergone a dealcoholization treatment: 

"Dealcoholized wine" and "Partially dealcoholized wine".

    This applies to wines, sparkling wines, carbonated sparkling wines and semi-sparkling wines.

For aromatized wine products: there is no equivalent provision in EU Regulation 251/2014 at the moment. 

    In addition, the European regulation also specifies the dealcoholization technologies authorized to be able to use the mentioned terms: 

3 dealcoholization techniques are authorized :

    ‐ Membrane techniques (reverse osmosis) 

    -Distillation 

    -Partial vacuum evaporation 

    In reality, distillation and vacuum evaporation are based on the same physical principle, on the other hand, there are two types of machines that can carry out dealcoholization following this principle (the Spinning Cone Column and the packing column). 

The regulation also states that the oenological practices allowed on wines BEFORE dealcoholization are still applicable.

On the other hand, a big topic remains unresolved concerning oenological practices AFTER dealcoholization. The subject is currently being discussed in the committees and by the OIV in order to authorize the practices necessary for the development of quality dealcoholized wines. 

    This last point will be very important to frame the market and thus sort between wines using dealcoholization technologies and other drinks based on grape juice or fermented grapes that will not be able to use the terms and will, logically, must leave the wine shelves. 

    B&S Tech actively participates in exchanges to ensure the development of quality dealcoholized wines! We will therefore not fail to inform you of the progress on this subject. 

Stay tuned !

The first fair entirely dedicated to non-alcoholic drinks will be held at the beginning of July at the Marché du Lez in Montpelier, and de-alcoholized drinks are in the spotlight! The organizers are keen to highlight local products from the French terroir. Wines, beers and non-alcoholic spirits will find their place there. An event that makes sense at the beginning of this summer and this period of strong heat.

Indeed, it is not recommended to consume alcohol in the middle of a heat wave, and for a good reason: alcohol dehydrates! Ethanol molecules will affect the activity of the kidneys by disturbing the production of vasopressin, a hormone produced by the brain, more precisely by the hypothalamus. Released in the blood, it will have an anti-diuretic role.

Drinking alcohol will therefore lead to an overproduction of urine and a too rapid elimination of our body's water reserves. The quantities contained in alcoholic beverages do not allow to compensate for these losses, our body finds itself having to draw water from its last resources, such as the brain. This is what causes the symptoms of a "hangover". Alcohol increases the risk of sunstroke and even hyperthermia.

It is therefore advisable to limit alcohol consumption when the sun is shining, and to turn instead to non-alcoholic drinks. Wine, beer or de-alcoholized spirits are a better alternative to continue to consume a festive drink as an aperitif while avoiding "heat stroke". Nevertheless, in these hot periods, the most important thing is to drink water, of course!