The Wine Group’s Cupcake Vineyards has entered the alcohol-free category with the launch of a Sauvignon Blanc.
The product is the first non-alcoholic wine in Cupcake’s portfolio, and was rolled out in retailers nationwide at the start of March, according to a statement from the US-based group.
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It sits within the Livermore, California-based vintner’s low- and no-alcohol segment, which includes its 8% abv low-calorie Lighthearted range launched in 2020.
Asked by Just Drinks why the business had decided to enter non-alcoholic wine and how it planned to compete with other brands on the market, Cupcake Vineyards said its alcoholic version of Sauvignon Blanc was its “top-selling SKU and the number one-selling Sauvignon Blanc in the premium price category”.
It added that the “alcohol-removed solution” was “meeting a range of consumer needs with a brand consumers know, love, and trust”.
The drink carries a California appellation, the group said, and “undergoes full fermentation” before spinning cone technology is used to remove the alcohol.
Alongside its alcohol-removed white wine, Cupcake has also launched a ready-to-serve mimosa sparkling wine cocktail, sold in two flavours – mango and classic orange.
The drinks are made using a dry Spanish sparkling wine and real fruit juices, with the orange juice being sourced from Valencia in Spain.
Both products are sold in a 750ml bottle format, with the non-alcoholic wine retailing at $9.99, while the mimosa cocktails are on sale for $13.99.
The Wine Group owns over 60 brands including Cooper & Thief, 13 Celsius, and Love Noir.
In 2021, the group snapped up US licenses for four of Australia-based Treasury Wine Estates’ lower-priced wine brands, including Coastal Estates, Meridian and Beringer’s Main & Vine.
The transaction was valued at roughly A$100m ($63.2m) at the time.
According to its website, The Wine Group has nine facilities in California, plus one in Westfield, New York, and Loxton, Australia.
The business sources grapes for its wines from a range of countries worldwide, including Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand and South Africa.
