Thomson & Scott NOUGHTY Dealcoholized Blanc
£9.75
The wine
The still white in the NOUGHTY range, built on Cape Chenin Blanc and dealcoholised after fermentation so the fruit character survives the process. Crisp green apple and citrus with a clean, dry finish. Organic, vegan and lower in sugar than most alternatives.
Chenin Blanc is South Africa's most planted white grape and an intelligent choice here, since its naturally high acidity and orchard-fruit character survive the de-alcoholisation process better than more delicate varieties. Fully fermented first, then the alcohol removed by vacuum distillation at low temperature.
The producer
Thomson & Scott
View all Thomson & Scott winesThomson & Scott was founded by Amanda Thomson, and NOUGHTY was launched in 2019 as an alcohol-free wine made properly rather than as an apology for one.
The distinction matters. Most low-alcohol drinks are built from grape juice and additives; NOUGHTY begins as real wine, fully fermented, and the alcohol is then removed by vacuum distillation at low temperature, which allows it to evaporate without cooking off the aromatics. The wines are organic, vegan and certified halal, and the sugar content is kept low, which is unusual in a category that often compensates for missing alcohol with sweetness.
The sparkling wines come from Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain, the still ones from the Coastal Region of South Africa. It has become the reference point in a category that barely existed a decade ago and now grows faster than almost any other part of the drinks trade.
