# L'Antidote 0% (NV)

- **Producer:** Domaine des Grottes
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Gamay
- **Region:** Beaujolais, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Average price:** €15
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 6–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apple, lemon, grape, herbaceous, mint, fennel, ginger

## About this wine

Domaine des Grottes was established in 2001 by Romain des Grottes in Saint-Étienne-des-Oullières, Southern Beaujolais. Frustrated by conventional viticultural yield metrics, Romain transformed his estate into a biodynamic ecological haven by uprooting vine rows to plant heritage grains, fruit trees, and wild medicinal herbs alongside the vines. L’Antidote was created as an innovative, zero-alcohol beverage crafted directly from unfermented grape juice and botanical infusions rather than standard dealcoholization.

## Interesting facts

- Every second or third vine row was uprooted to plant cover crops, fruit trees, and herbs to maximize estate biodiversity.
- Unlike most alcohol-free wines, L'Antidote is never dealcoholized; it is made directly from unfermented juices and herbal infusions.
- The beverage infuses ten distinct organic herbs including thyme, rosemary, bay laurel, and sweet alyssum.

## Food pairing

Vibrant citrus and grape acidity combined with fine effervescence seamlessly cuts through rich cheeses and charcuterie. The warmth of ginger and herbal complexity complement mild spices and fruit desserts without overwhelming the dish.

## Wine making process

L'Antidote is crafted without alcohol fermentation or dealcoholization. Estate-grown botanicals—including thyme, oregano, rosemary, chamomile, and bay laurel—are cold-macerated into herbal infusions. This infusion is blended with unfermented organic Gamay grape juice, apple juice, lemon, and ginger, followed by gentle carbonation with carbon dioxide before bottling without added sulfites.