Benita Sophie Grüner Veltliner Alcohol-Free demonstrates that an alcohol-free wine can truly be varietally typical. How do you recognize a good alcohol-free Grüner Veltliner? By the typical profile of apple, spicy freshness, and lively acidity that remains intact even after de-alcoholization. This is precisely where this wine distinguishes itself, as it retains the recognizable Grüner Veltliner character with a fresh, smooth style that surprisingly closely resembles wine.
The basis for this wine lies in Mannersdorf an der March, near the border between Austria and Slovakia.
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Origin: Weingut Lobner is located in Mannersdorf an der March, on the March river, in an area that has been inhabited for about 30,000 years.
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Soil: The vineyards are situated on loess soils, a soil type known for its good water retention and suitability for refined white wines.
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Age of vines: The vineyards for this wine are between 20 and 25 years old, ensuring a beautiful balance between fruit and structure.
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Harvest: The grapes are hand-picked in the second half of September, spread over approximately 4 weeks, followed by an additional selection at the winery.
This manual harvest and extra selection give this alcohol-free wine more precision than is often seen in this segment.
The vinification aims to let the grape express itself as purely as possible, before the alcohol is removed from the wine.
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Fermentation and aging: Fermentation and aging take place in stainless steel tanks, ensuring that the fresh and direct character of Grüner Veltliner remains central.
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Lees aging: The wine ages on its lees until early March, which adds extra softness and texture.
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De-alcoholization: Only after this aging period is the wine de-alcoholized, so that as much grape expression and balance as possible can be developed first.
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Analysis: The wine contains 0.38% alcohol and 31 g/l residual sugar, placing it in a smooth, slightly off-dry style with clear fresh tension.
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Allergens: This wine contains sulfites.
The combination of classic white wine vinification and de-alcoholization at a later stage is the most important vinification USP here, as it preserves more character.
Grüner Veltliner – Mannersdorf an der March
Grüner Veltliner is Austria's best-known white grape and is famous for its fresh acidity, apple notes, and spicy, slightly peppery style.
Weingut Lobner is a family business in Mannersdorf an der March and is currently led by Benita Lobner, the fourth generation of the house. Benita, born in 2001, completed her third harvest in 2023 and runs the estate together with her father Gerhard J. Lobner. After her education at the HBLA for viticulture and fruit growing in Klosterneuburg and internships in Kamptal and the Mosel, she continues to build on a distinct personal style. The focus is strongly on Riesling, which now accounts for 51% of the plantings, but with the Benita Sophie line, she also consciously chooses a young, contemporary alcohol-free direction. As of the 2024 harvest, the estate is also organically certified.
