The installation marks a significant step in the evolution of premium No/Low wines, where preserving aroma and sensory quality has become a defining industry priority.
Fürst von Metternich Riesling Alcohol-free on the bottling line, one of the first products in Henkell Freixenet’s portfolio developed in collaboration with Solos Technology.
Henkell Freixenet is expanding its premium dealcoholized sparkling wine production capabilities through the deployment of Solos Technology's patented Aroma Recovery System (ARS) at its Wiesbaden production site, the Group’s expertise centre for alcohol-free production. The installation represents a significant investment in next-generation dealcoholized sparkling wine production, helping preserve the natural aroma and sensory identity of the original wines.
The project combines Henkell Freixenet's longstanding winemaking expertise with Solos' proprietary dealcoholization and patented aroma recovery technology. With 30 years of experience in producing alcohol-free sparkling wines, Henkell Freixenet has continuously advanced its expertise and pursued a consistent ambition to further improve product quality, taste and sensory character. This latest investment builds on that track record at a time when the No/Low wine category is entering a new phase of maturity. As consumer expectations continue to rise, producers are increasingly prioritising technologies that preserve varietal expression, complexity and sensory quality throughout the dealcoholization process.
Unlike conventional systems, Solos' patented Aroma Recovery System captures the wine's natural aroma compounds after alcohol removal and carefully reintegrates them into the final product, enabling producers to create premium dealcoholized wines that remain true to the character of the original wine.
"The future of the No/Low category is no longer defined by alcohol removal alone, but by the ability to preserve the identity of the original wine," said Claudia Geyer, CTO of Solos Technology. "We are honoured to collaborate with Henkell Freixenet, a company recognised worldwide for its commitment to winemaking excellence. Together, we are helping shape a new generation of premium dealcoholized wines where authenticity, craftsmanship and consumer experience remain at the heart of every bottle."
“For more than 30 years, Henkell Freixenet has played a leading role in the development of alcohol-free sparkling wines, driven by our ambition to continuously improve their quality, taste and sensory character. We look forward to building a strong partnership with Solos Technology and combining our longstanding winemaking expertise with their patented Aroma Recovery System. Together, we aim to recover and carefully reintegrate the wine’s natural aromas, helping us preserve its authenticity, complexity and distinctive character even more effectively,” said Eberhard Benz, CTO and Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of Henkell Freixenet.
The installation marks another milestone in the adoption of advanced aroma recovery technology, reinforcing Solos Technology's mission to help producers create premium dealcoholized wines while preserving the authenticity, complexity and sensory identity that define exceptional wine.
About Solos Technology
Solos is a global leader in aroma recovery for premium dealcoholized beverages. At the core of its offering is the Aroma Recovery System (ARS), a patented solid-phase extraction technology that captures and reintroduces original aroma signatures to create true-to-source no- and low-alcohol wines, beer and spirits. Through a growing international network, Solos provides advanced NoLo contract manufacturing for wine, beer, and spirits, enabling producers to deliver premium products that meet evolving consumer expectations. Solos operates today out of Spain, California, Germany and Switzerland. Solos is part of Prodalim Group, a global supplier of natural solutions with 16 sites around the world. Learn more at solos-technology.com and prodalim.com.
About Henkell Freixenet
As an international group of companies, Henkell Freixenet is the global market leader for sparkling wine. The unique brand portfolio of Sekt, Cava, Prosecco, Champagne and Crémant as well as still wines and spirits accompany the moments in consumers' lives and makes them meaningful. The Henkell Freixenet team is driven by the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship - always with the vision of setting new benchmarks in the industry and the respective product categories and inspiring consumers with innovations and high-quality crafted products. Making Life Sparkle!
For further information https://www.henkell-freixenet.com/.
Discover why high-quality dealcoholized wine production starts before dealcoholization and how winemaking decisions can influence the final result.
Download the Winemaking Guideline
The conversation around dealcoholized wine production often focuses on one central question: how can alcohol be removed while preserving the quality and identity of the wine? While dealcoholization technology plays an essential role, producing a high-quality final product requires wineries to look beyond the process itself and consider how the wine has been developed from the very beginning.
As expectations for No/Low wines continue to rise, the challenge is no longer simply to reduce alcohol content. Consumers increasingly expect wines that retain the aromatic expression, balance, structure and overall character associated with their conventional counterparts. Meeting those expectations requires a different approach to winemaking, one in which the final dealcoholized product is considered well before the alcohol is removed.
Alcohol contributes significantly to the sensory balance of wine, influencing aroma perception, acidity, sweetness, structure and mouthfeel. When alcohol is removed, the relationship between these elements changes, making the characteristics of the base wine particularly important.
For winemakers, this means considering from an early stage how decisions such as grape variety, harvest timing, fermentation strategy and base wine composition may influence the final result. Rather than selecting an existing wine and then deciding to dealcoholize it, wineries have an opportunity to develop wines specifically with dealcoholization in mind.
This change in perspective is fundamental to producing higher-quality wines. The question is no longer simply which wine should be dealcoholized, but what kind of wine should be created for dealcoholization?
Producing a premium dealcoholized wine requires the different stages of winemaking to be considered as part of one connected process. White and red wines present different challenges, aroma compounds respond differently during processing, and the desired final alcohol level can influence both production decisions and the sensory balance of the finished wine.
Technology is a critical part of this process, but its purpose should be to preserve the quality and character developed during winemaking. Combining the right wine design with the right dealcoholization and aroma recovery technology provides a stronger foundation for retaining varietal expression and producing a final wine that remains true to its original identity.
This integrated approach is the foundation of the new Solos Winemaking Guidelines for High-Quality Dealcoholized Wine Production, developed to support wineries and winemakers navigating the technical challenges of this growing category.
The guideline brings together practical recommendations covering the key stages of the process, including base wine development, fermentation, aroma preservation, dealcoholization, final sensory balance and regulatory considerations for both white and red wines.
For wineries looking to develop premium dealcoholized wines, the message is clear: quality is not something that can be added after dealcoholization. It needs to be considered throughout the entire winemaking process.
Discover the technical recommendations and practical guidance in the complete Solos Winemaking Guideline.
Awards are more than trophies. They reflect changing consumer expectations and signal where an industry is headed.
This week, those expectations were made clear when Zeronimo was named Best Non-Alcoholic Wine in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2026. Following a nomination by a panel of wine and beverage experts, readers across the United States voted Zeronimo to the top of a highly competitive field, ahead of some of the most established names in the premium alcohol-free wine category.
For the Zeronimo team, this recognition is a testament to their unwavering commitment to quality. Founded by Austrian winemakers Katja Bernegger and Patrick Bayer, the brand has challenged the perception that alcohol-free wine requires compromise. Instead, Zeronimo begins with exceptional wines, including Leonis Blend, crafted from a wine awarded 98 points, and Century Blend, produced from a wine aged for 22 years, demonstrating that outstanding alcohol-free wines start with outstanding wines. Combined with meticulous craftsmanship and a relentless focus on excellence, this philosophy has enabled Zeronimo to create alcohol-free wines that stand alongside the very best.
"This award is a wonderful recognition of our team's dedication to crafting exceptional alcohol-free wines," said Katja Bernegger, Co-Founder of Zeronimo. "From the very beginning, our goal has been to show that removing alcohol should never mean compromising on quality. We are grateful to everyone who voted for us and proud to share this milestone with partners like Solos, who have supported our vision from the start."
At Solos, we are proud to be part of that journey. Through our collaboration with Zeronimo and our advanced dealcoholization technology, we have had the privilege of supporting the creation of premium alcohol-free wines that preserve the character, aroma and complexity of the original wine. Partnerships like this are at the heart of our mission to help wineries produce exceptional dealcoholized wines without compromising quality.
This award is not only a remarkable achievement for Zeronimo. It is another clear sign that the alcohol-free wine category has entered a new era. Consumers are no longer looking simply for an alternative to wine. They are looking for exceptional wines, regardless of alcohol content.
"Seeing Zeronimo receive this recognition is incredibly rewarding," said Claudia Geyer, Founder & CTO of Solos. "Our collaboration has always been driven by a shared commitment to quality and innovation. Awards like this show what is possible when exceptional winemaking and advanced dealcoholization technology come together."
As demand for premium alcohol-free wines continues to grow, achievements like this highlight what is possible through collaboration, innovation and an uncompromising commitment to quality. We congratulate Katja, Patrick and the entire Zeronimo team on this well-deserved achievement and look forward to continuing our collaboration as the premium alcohol-free wine category reaches new heights.
