What’s So Special About French Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine?

What’s so unique about a non-alcoholic sparkling wine from France? Whether you’re drinking alcoholized or alcohol-free sparkling wine from France, you’re getting something made from generations of tradition, crafted by innovators in the art and science of winemaking. 

Here’s how French 0% ABV sparkling wine compares to sparkling wines from Spain and the United States.

The Expertise of Winemaking in the South of France

The French region has been producing wine for over 2,600 years, tracing its roots back to the 6th century B.C. with the founding of Massalia. All the way through the late 20th century, French wine was considered the benchmark for what a wine should be. In the late 20th century, winemaking expanded into new territories, and French wine began to face competition in other European and American regions. In response, French winemakers began to utilize new techniques and innovations to create a wine that was both a mix of Old World mastery and artistry and more modern advancements in sustainable and flavor-enhancing practices.

Almost every region in France produces some type of wine. Over 3,000 different wines are produced in France, being made from grapes from over two million hectares of vineyards spanning the country. Some of those regions create different types of wines, like how Bordeaux is famous for both its Cabernets and Merlots.  

However, Provence in the South of France, found along the Mediterranean coast at the southern end of the Rhone Valley, is the only region that dedicates nearly all of its production to the creation of its famous rosé. Provence also has the distinction of being the oldest wine-producing region in France.

While alcohol-free wines are still a developing industry, with not all wine regions embracing the growing trend, Provence wine with no alcohol is no longer difficult to find. Just as with all other trends in the winemaking culture, Provence was among the first regions to work on honing the best non-alcoholic wine.

How Does French Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine Compare to Spanish?

Like France, Spain has a long history of producing wine. Also like France, Spain has many different wine regions that produce different types of wines. For instance, Andalusia in the southwest of Spain is where one would find the rich dessert wine known as Sherry. 

Just as Provence on the Mediterranean coast is where France produces its rosé, Spain’s Mediterranean coast is where the country produces its famous sparkling wine. However, these sparkling wines are very different, as the South of France sparkling wine is often rosé-style, while Spain is where you’ll find Cava. Cava is typically more similar to a Champagne and is usually a white sparkling wine, although there are some rare Cava rosé types.  

Although Provence is primarily dedicated to the production of rosé, the same cannot be said for Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Along this warm coast of Spain, one would also find a variety of red wines.

How Does French Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine Compare to American?

Compared with either France or Spain, America has a very short wine-making history. American wines actually have strong ties to France, as French Huguenots in the 1560s were among the first to attempt winemaking in what would become the United States. Today, U.S. wines and French wines often use the same varietals.

Unlike France and Spain, winemaking isn’t something that’s found all over the United States. Instead, about 80% of U.S. wine is made in California, with Washington, Oregon, and New York making up the bulk of the remaining U.S. wine production.  

Why California? It has to do with climate. Climate can vary greatly from state to state and even city to city in the United States, but California is considered to have more of a Mediterranean climate than other areas of the U.S. So, it makes sense why a Mediterranean-like climate would work well with Mediterranean-originated wine production techniques. 

California is particularly known for its full-bodied reds, but areas closer to the Pacific Ocean often have what’s called a marine layer, fog near the ocean that creates a bit of a cooler climate. The result is higher success in producing white wine varieties.

So, what about sparkling wine? There actually aren’t a lot of sparkling wine producers in the United States. There are some along the northern coast of California and Oregon, but the production remains fairly limited.

Discover the Best Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine Made in the South of France

Not all sparkling wines are the same, of course. You know the difference between a Champagne and a Prosecco, but did you know just how much the country of origin matters when drinking a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

The South of France is one of the oldest wine-making regions in the world and has stood the test of time as one of the most popular wine regions. Like many of the greatest rosés, the South of France is home to BEAU VIVA, one of the first pioneers of non-alcoholic sparkling wine in Provence. Crafted by winemakers who have been creating world-reknowned wines for generations, BEAU VIVA is a mix of historic traditions and one-of-a-kind innovation. 

Celebrate with BEAU VIVA and learn what makes non-alcoholic sparkling wine from France so special.