IYLIA

IYLIA came out of an unlikely pivot. Layla-Joy Williams had spent years building a fashion label, with manufacturing partnerships in Spain going back more than a decade. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and she found herself grounded in the country she'd long called a second home, fashion started to feel beside the point. Spain's wine regions were still operating. Williams started visiting wineries and production facilities across the country. By the time lockdowns lifted, she had the foundations of something different.

The brand is built around a simple premise: that Spanish winemaking craft deserves to reach people who don't drink. Working with producers in the Valencian region, IYLIA sources Tempranillo grapes and puts them through a full winemaking process before removing the alcohol. The result is a 0.0% sparkling rosé that retains the aromatic character of the grape rather than the candied approximation you get from grape juice dressed up in wine clothing.

Tempranillo is an interesting choice for a non-alcoholic sparkling. It's most widely known as the backbone of Rioja reds, bringing structure and dark fruit character, but it also produces a delicate rosé when handled carefully. IYLIA's sparkling rosé is pale pink with fine bubbles and a dry, clean finish. Expect red berry on the nose, some floral lift, and enough acidity to make it genuinely refreshing rather than sweet and flat. It's not trying to impersonate Champagne; it has its own identity.

The brand positions itself firmly at the premium end of the non-alcoholic wine category. The packaging is considered, the bottle format is standard 750ml, and the price reflects the dealcoholisation process rather than the economics of sparkling grape juice. There's a Gold variant alongside the Rosé, aimed at occasions where you want something that reads as celebratory on the table.

IYLIA is a transatlantic project in the truest sense. The brand was conceived in New York, with Williams drawing on frustration at how little Spanish wine made it into the city's shops, but everything is produced in Spain. The EU shop (iylia.eu) handles European distribution, though UK availability remains limited and largely through specialist online retailers rather than mainstream supermarket shelves.

The brand sits in an interesting space. It's not a wellness product. It's not marketed around sobriety, mindfulness, or Dry January. Williams built it as a luxury drinks brand that happens not to contain alcohol, which gives it a slightly different feel to much of the category. Whether that positioning lands in the UK market, where the AF wine shelf is increasingly competitive, is still being established.

The Collection

Sparkling White