PARIS, Nov 25 (Reuters) – When a pandemic lockdown stored the French indoors in 2020, Augustin Laborde determined to surrender wine however struggled in Paris to discover a non-alcoholic various.
Two years later, Laborde has opened what he says is the primary alcohol-free wine retailer in a rustic famend the world over for its Bordeaux crimson wines and white Burgundies.
“We’re responding to very robust demand,” he stated. “We’re already receiving proposals to open related outlets elsewhere in France.”
France, the place vineyards cowl the panorama from the Jura mountains within the east to the foothills of the Pyrenees within the southwest, is the second largest client of wine, behind solely america, 2021 figures from the Worldwide Organisation of Vine and Wine present.
Whereas non-alcoholic drinks have gained recognition elsewhere, they’ve lagged in France.
The nation’s consumption of non-alcoholic wine grew by 4% in 2021, in contrast with development of 24% worldwide, consultancy group IWSR Drinks Market Evaluation discovered.
However even in France attitudes are altering as alcohol consciousness campaigns spotlight its well being dangers and well-being tendencies acquire traction.
“We see a powerful curiosity for low-alcohol and no-alcohol drinks” alcohol dependancy researcher Mickael Naassila informed Reuters. “Individuals are extra involved about their well being.”
Prospects in Augustin Laborde’s store echoed that view.
As she tasted a glass of alcohol-free crimson wine, Helene Bourgy stated the drink was a compromise that allowed for an alcohol-free however nonetheless “festive environment”.
Even when the French have been sluggish to take up non-alcoholic drinks, their wine consumption has fallen from Twentieth-century peaks.
It dropped from over 20 litres of alcoholic drinks offered per inhabitant in 1961, to five.6 litres in 2020, in accordance the French Observatory of medicine and addictive tendencies (OFDT).
Whereas the French are ingesting much less in amount, they’re favouring high quality, Naassila stated, because the nation’s love of wine is deeply rooted.
“(French individuals) realise that they should lower their stage of consumption,” he says. “They nonetheless love gastronomy and I’m certain they’ll proceed to drink.”
Reporting by Manuel Ausloos; Modifying by Barbara Lewis
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