A cloudy glass with floating botanical particles. That’s L’étable Fumé, Cul Sec’s orange-style alcohol-free wine, built from organic Pecorino grape juice with skin contact and a smoky profile that earns its name.
Where dealcoholized wines strip flavour alongside alcohol, L’étable Fumé builds from the ground up. Water-based herb and botanical infusions lay the aromatic foundation. Slow fermentation with kombucha and kefir cultures adds depth. Small amounts of tinctures, kept below 0.5% alcohol, return the volatile compounds usually carried by alcohol.
In the glass
Dried herbs, white tea, and jasmine on the nose. On the palate: gentian bitterness, followed by subtle pear and verveine. A light effervescence keeps the mouthfeel lively and persistent.
With food
As an aperitif this works well: it clears the palate and starts conversations. De Fruitslagers source exclusively from regenerative farms, which makes each bottle a position as much as a drink.
At around €15, L’étable Fumé is a choice, not a consolation. For anyone who wants real flavour without alcohol.
More information: https://www.fruitslagers.nl/en/bedrijven/culsec
Sources
- Cul Sec / Fruitslagers (official): culsec.com
- EU Regulation 1308/2013: definition of “alcohol-free” (≤ 0.5% vol): eur-lex.europa.eu
More on Non-Alcoholic
Rouge en Voiture: Redefining Alcohol-Free Red
Rouge en Voiture by Dutch producer Cul Sec demonstrates that abstaining from alcohol needn't mean sacrificing sophistication.
Read on →
French Bloom + LVMH: how alcohol-free grew up
Moët Hennessy took a minority stake in French Bloom. A year later the brand bought 25 hectares in Limoux. What does that say about premium alcohol-free?
Read on →
Established Sparkling Tea: A Serious Wine Alternative
Established Sparkling Tea is shaking up Amsterdam restaurants. A premium non-alcoholic drink built by chef Maarten Riebeek that takes wine seriously.
Read on →