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The process of making ZENO wine begins in our vineyards in central Spain, where organically grown vines nestle on undulating hills, surrounded by picturesque almond orchards and sheep grazing in fertile fields.

At harvest, parcels of only the best fruit are selected, with specific qualities tailored for getting the perfect result through the de-alcoholisation process.

Carefully vinified in our world class winery, the wines are then meticulously blended, before the alcohol is gently removed using the world’s most advanced technology.

Finally, further extensive blending and tasting follows, led by ZENO’s resident MW, to achieve wines with regional expression and sophisticated aroma and flavour qualities.

0.5% alcohol volume is similar to the alcohol found in bakery items, ripe fruit, fruit juices, dried fruit and many other daily food staples.

0.5% enhances the aromatics, flavours and texture to give ZENO sophistication and full body, with no compromise in taste.

Like all alcohol-free drinks that mirror the flavours and image of consuming alcohol, it is not recommended for under 18s or those who may experience “euphoric recall” in recovery from alcohol dependency.

ZENO (334-262 B.C.) was a trader from Cyprus. Shipwrecked off the coast of Greece, he wandered, haggard and sunburned, into Athens - where he met the prominent thinker Socrates, who became his mentor and teacher. It was the beginning of one of history’s most influential schools of philosophy. An analogy that can easily relate to modern day life…

He was lauded for the 4 virtues which underpin the ZENO brand:

Moderation

“The excess of pleasure is pain” Almeida Garrett

Wisdom

“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters” Epictetus

Justice

“They who live in harmony with themselves live in harmony with the universe” Epictetus

Courage

“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them” Benjamin Franklin

These four virtues are all branches of ‘knowledge’, as symbolised by the Roman statesman and philosopher, Cicero with his “fist in hand” which became the logo for all things ZENO.

When ZENO wasn’t busy philosophising, his main enjoyment was to sit in the sun eating figs and drinking wine.

See? It’s all about balance. Our goal as a company is not to preach. Their mission is to craft the best alcohol-liberated wine alternatives possible, with regional and varietal expression, for the more discerning wine drinker on occasions where they choose not to drink alcohol.

ZENO was created by founder David Hodgson MBA, a hospitality and wine trade veteran, who decided to live alcohol-free after realising that years of consuming alcohol for business and pleasure was not supporting his health and wellness. He didn’t want to feel excluded from the enjoyment of the flavours and ritual that are so intertwined with eating and celebrating.

Noticing that the alcohol-free wines available were largely disappointing, he embarked on a mission to develop styles that would satisfy wine enthusiasts. Not a compromise - an aspiration.

A snowy taxi ride from a trade show in Helsinki with renowned wine trade professional Will Willis put the idea into action, and research and development commenced to see if it was possible to create this new dimension in alcohol-free wine.

The duo then discussed the ZENO project with industry legend Jane Masters MW, whose curiosity won over, and she applied her depth of technical and commercial experience to diving into the science of creating truly desirable alcohol-free wines.

A journey of exploration, many disappointments and thankfully a breakthrough resulted in ZENO wines coming to life.