Preconceived expectations overshadow both the non-alcoholic wine obsession and the moderation goals.
Written by Jenny Rostain, Free Spirit
"Perfect" non-alcoholic red wine is still some way off, but it's possible to come close. 50% of the red wine experience can be said to be the presence of alcohol - warmth and burn. And when these are removed, it takes a lot of personality and resilience from the red wine grapes to ensure that when the alcohol is removed, there is more than just a berry-like memory of the red wine.
So why enjoy 0% red wine if the perfect red wine experience is hard to find? There are many reasons, and one of them is the desire to enjoy wine without the harmful or unpleasant effects of alcohol. Indeed, many people have moved from basic alcohol consumption to moderation, whereby "mixing" non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks has become the new normal.
What if absoluteness is not the only option, but moderation is sufficient?
The late wine expert and acclaimed author, Jim Harrisson, wrote a guide for men to moderate their drinking 24 years ago. In his words, attitudes play a big part in this theme too.
"Oddly enough, our main weapons in controlling drinking are humor and lightness. The judgment of others and self-judgment (stern) are both contraindicated. When we fu** up, we mentally beat ourselves up. It doesn't work at all and has to be expunged. The reason to slow down is to feel better, and it works real good."
