Lautus

Holder's background is thoroughbred. He studied viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University, spent formative years working harvests in France, Australia, and the United States, then went on to become Cellarmaster and General Manager at Delheim, one of the Cape Winelands' most respected estates. When he left to focus on Lautus full time in 2018, he brought that institutional knowledge with him.

The winery sources grapes from vineyards across South Africa's Western Cape. The Savvy Red, a soft red blend with berry fruit and subtle oak, uses grapes from Holder's own family farm in Vredendal in the Olifants River Valley, where he grew up. That connection to the land gives Lautus a provenance most alcohol-free wine labels can only gesture at.

The de-alcoholisation process uses spinning cone technology, which strips alcohol under vacuum at low temperatures. Done well, this preserves the aromatic compounds that make wine interesting, and Lautus applies it across a range of five varieties: Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, and Savvy Red. The sparkling comes in both brut and rosé styles. Wines are available in standard 750ml bottles and 250ml cans.

In the UK, Lautus is stocked by Dry Drinker and a handful of specialist alcohol-free retailers. It sits at the premium end of the de-alcoholised wine category, priced to reflect the craft and technology behind it. For wine lovers who have found most alcohol-free alternatives unconvincing, the pedigree here is genuine.