Freixenet

The brand name traces to La Freixeneda, a Ferrer family estate dating to the thirteenth century. The modern company began in 1914 with the marriage of Pedro Ferrer and Dolores Sala Vivé. Freixenet is globally recognised for its Cordon Negro Cava, sold in a distinctive matte black frosted bottle. In 2018, German drinks group Henkell and Co. acquired a majority stake, forming Henkell Freixenet, a combined entity positioned as the world's leading sparkling wine group.

Freixenet launched its first alcohol-free sparkling wine in 2011, placing it among the earliest premium sparkling wine brands to enter the AF category. The 0.0% range uses vacuum distillation: a process that removes alcohol at reduced pressure, which lowers the boiling point and allows the wine to be treated gently without stripping its natural aromas. In 2022, Freixenet extended the AF portfolio with still wines alongside the original sparkling format, broadening the range for sober-curious drinkers who want a table-wine style rather than a celebratory fizz.

Distribution is multi-channel, spanning mainstream supermarkets and online retail. The AF range sits in the mid-to-premium bracket, consistent with the parent brand's positioning across its Cava lines. More than a century of recognition in the Cava category gives the 0.0% bottles a visual shorthand that newer standalone AF wine brands have to work harder to establish.