The Alcohol-Free Sommelier

The Alcohol-Free Sommelier

The Alcohol-Free Sommelier is a weekly look at the world of No & Low alcohol drinks, hosted by Christine Parkinson. Meet the people who create, serve, sell and drink them. Find out the latest news on technology and ingredients, history, market trends and legal issues and of course, the drinks on the shelves right now. If it’s non-alcoholic, it’s here!

Recent Episodes

From the Club Soda archive

Nov. 18, 2021

About: In episode 5 of The Alcohol-free Sommelier, I interviewed Laura Willoughby MBE, of Club Soda. This bonus episode comes from the Club Soda archive. You can find out more by visiting their website ClubSoda.com . Laura,…

Club Soda with Laura Willoughby MBE

Nov. 18, 2021

Lots of producers of No & Low alcohol drinks got into the industry when they decided to change their own drinking choices. They couldn't find what they wanted to drink, so they made their own. Laura Willoughby did it slightl…

Spoilt without alcohol?

Nov. 3, 2021

Tom Ward says they go 'ping'. Simon Rucker mentions explosions. Chrissie and James explain: they're talking about shelf life, and spoilage of non-alc drinks There are two real reasons why our ancestors made and consumed alco…

Switchel or shrub, and why vinegar matters

Oct. 27, 2021

Vinegar was used in drinks to keep them fresh in the days (centuries) before refrigerators. It even stood in for spirits during the American Prohibition. Now it's making a comeback as the backbone of some delicious non-alcoh…

Low & No distributors: who does, who doesn't, and why

Oct. 21, 2021

The suppliers you've used for years probably don’t sell No & Low drinks – but Tom Proctor and Daniel Stiller do. Francoise Mathis and Adrian Needham would like to, one day. James Morgan explains why the wrong choice of supp…

5 Ways to fix dealcoholised wine

Oct. 13, 2021

Can dealcoholized wine be improved? The answer is maybe, or maybe not. Matthew Jukes & Amanda Thomson disagree, industry insiders Imma Cannavo, Harry Crowther & Francoise Mathis set out their wish-lists, and regular contribu…