La Baume

The estate was originally founded by Jean Prat in 1882. Its modern character was shaped by an acquisition in 1990 by the Australian group Hardy's, which brought New World winemaking approaches to the Languedoc before the estate passed to subsequent ownership. Today it is owned by Les Grands Chais de France, within whose portfolio it is listed as a flagship estate, and the 176-hectare vineyard remains the production base.

The Saint Paul range is La Baume's alcohol-free offering. The wines are produced using vacuum distillation, a process in which alcohol is removed at reduced pressure, which lowers the boiling point so the heat applied is gentler and delicate varietal aromas are better preserved. The range covers white and red wine styles from the Languedoc, positioned at the mid-range end of the alcohol-free wine category. Distribution is through specialist alcohol-free retailers rather than mainstream supermarkets.

The Languedoc provenance gives the Saint Paul range a clear regional identity that many dealcoholised wines lack. Most AF wines are produced at contract facilities with no specific estate connection; the La Baume association anchors the Saint Paul label to a named estate with a documented history. Sober-curious wine drinkers seeking a French estate format in the alcohol-free category will find the Saint Paul range a practical option with genuine regional grounding.