March 2025 may go down in the history of Polish winemaking as a symbolic turning point. During the WINO fair in Poznań, visitors had the chance to taste the first Polish non-alcoholic wine.
Folwark Pszczew Vineyard introduced a product named FreeSecco – the first Polish alcohol-free beverage made from wine. According to current Polish law, it cannot be officially labeled as “wine,” but its winemaking origin is unquestionable. The drink is the result of de-alcoholizing classic wine and stands out with a fresh, lightly sparkling character. It’s worth emphasizing: this is a pioneering project on a national scale.
The first alcohol-free wine only now. Why so late?
Until recently, the Polish wine scene didn’t feature a single alcohol-free wine. There were several reasons for that:
- Small production scale – the average Polish vineyard spans just a few hectares. Creating an alcohol-free product would require allocating part of the harvest and investing in new processes – a step only the largest estates (and there are just a few of them in Poland) can afford.
- Still-developing winemaking base – to produce good non-alcoholic wine, you need great wine to begin with. While the quality of Polish wines is improving, it still varies considerably.
- High technological costs – professional wine de-alcoholization is an expensive process, especially at small production volumes. For many producers, the cost would be too high and would have to be reflected in the final price – likely unacceptable for most Polish consumers.
The future of alcohol-free wines: a wave of change is coming
While FreeSecco is the first of its kind, all signs suggest it won’t be the last. According to unofficial sources, more wineries are planning to develop non-alcoholic wines. Polish winemakers are also expected to use foreign mobile de-alcoholization units, which eliminate the need for costly infrastructure investments.
Everything indicates that the non-alcoholic wine market will grow in Poland, though likely at a slower pace than in Western Europe. The potential? Huge – especially in light of global health trends and declining alcohol consumption.
Where to buy FreeSecco?
The first batch of FreeSecco consists of only a few thousand bottles and is available directly from Folwark Pszczew Vineyard. With such a limited supply, it’s worth placing your order quickly.
For those interested in more detail, we recommend the review by Maciej Nowicki (available in Polish only), published in the magazine Ferment. It offers an in-depth sensory analysis and market context for this debut product.
