Sovio cuts abv and goes single

Sovio, the low alcohol wine-style drink, is about to hit the on-trade for the first time in a single serve and even lower alcohol format.

The on-trade variant of the sparkling drink comes in 25cl single serve bottles, with a lower alcohol content of 5.5% abv. The low alcohol content means it attracts a lower duty rate and can, therefore, be price matched against a large glass of wine.

The original 75cl Sovio Sparkling White Zinfandel Rosé variant, which has already recorded off-trade success, according to the company, has an alcohol content of 8% abv.

"We undertook the largest ever piece of consumer research into the lower alcohol wine category," said general manager Tony Cass.

"The findings show there is overwhelming evidence of a demand for a lighter style drink but one that exhibits all the integrity of a good wine.

"Drinkers in pubs and bars have had to compromise with low alcohol alternatives in the past, whereas Sovio 5.5% has the advantages of being a socially inclusive choice with real taste benefits at an attractive price."

The drink faced a UK ban two years ago when its spinning cone production methods for the removal of alcohol came under fire. The Food Standard Agency's Wine Standards Branch (WSB) said the brand contravened EU wine-making rules, which bans the use of certain processes to reduce alcohol levels.

Sovio Wines, however, said its original product was below 9% abv and therefore fell outside EU guidelines on wine-making and could not be classified as a wine.

As a result, the term "wine" does not appear on Sovio's packaging.