Bernardus Winery Debuts America’s 1st Single-Vineyard Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Wine

Bernardus Winery released the 2025 Blanc de Blancs Griva Vineyard Premium Alcohol Removed Sparkling Wine, the first single-vineyard alcohol-removed sparkling wine made in the United States. The 100% Chardonnay from Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco AVA debuted Sept. 11,opening day of the Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands.

Winery founder Ben Pon, whose family began importing Volkswagens to the U.S. in 1947, brought fellow Dutch entrepreneur Robert van der Wallen onboard as a winery partner in 2017. Van der Wallen named his Bernardus Golf course for Pon and took full ownership of the winery after Pon’s passing in 2019. When he brought the Solheim Cup to the course, the winery created this wine so guests who prefer not to drink could still raise a glass.

“At Bernardus, wine quality starts in the vineyard,” said Jeff Meier, president of Bernardus Winery. “We began with a single, exceptional site and embraced innovation to meet the evolving preferences of today’s wine consumer.”

Meier made the wine with winemaker Jim McCabe and mentor Barry Gnekow, who helped introduce alcohol-removed wine to the U.S. with Ariel Vineyards. Meier and Gnekow bring more than 80 years of experience in the category.

The Chardonnay was fermented in new French oak barrels and aged six months on its lees, then dealcoholized by low-temperature vacuum distillation at 70°F (21°C) to below 0.05% alcohol and carbonated. It shows ripe peach, apple and candied citrus with brioche and toasted oak. Blue accents on the bottle nod to European conventions for alcohol-free wines.

“The goal was simple: an alcohol-removed sparkling wine that still delivers the complexity, elegance and vineyard expression expected from Bernardus,” said Meier.

Just 179 cases were produced. The wine is $35 per bottle at the Bernardus tasting room and at bernardus.com: a way to celebrate without alcohol, but without compromise.