Photo courtesy of the Zoie Company
There are a lot of reasons to cut back on alcohol – or give it up entirely. Reducing or quitting alcohol consumption has been shown to improve physical and mental health. Or maybe you want to lose weight, sleep better, save money or simply avoid the grogginess of a hangover. With this in mind, Michelle and David Toothman found a way that you can have your wine and drink it too but without the negative side effects.
The Toothmans have lived in the Alexandria area for 20 years and have wanted to start their own business for a long time. When David retired from his career as a Marine Corps musician last year, it was the perfect time to pursue a new product idea.
The Toothmans decided to create an alcohol-removed wine which they named Lali. “[We] saw a need for better tasting non-alcoholic wine choices and saw that cans are becoming very popular… I went to California and worked with a winemaker to develop Lali. It is real wine that has the alcohol removed,” Michelle explained.
Photo courtesy of The Zoie Company
Michelle and David Toothman
While there are a number of non-alcoholic beers on the market, good non-alcoholic wine is harder to find.
Lali wine is made using the same process as traditional winemaking with an extra step at the end to gently remove the alcohol. The grapes are organic and grown in the vineyards of California’s Central Valley. It took the Toothmans almost a year to create and develop Lali, which launched in June.
Michelle said that there are a lot of people who could enjoy Lali, from designated drivers to people who like the taste of wine but don’t like the effects of alcohol.
“Maybe people want to go to a dinner and be included at the table but they want more of a choice than soda, iced tea or water, and don’t necessarily want to stand out,” Michelle explained. She compared it to when decaf coffee was first introduced, which allows people to enjoy a cup of coffee in the evening without worrying that caffeine will keep them up all night.
Non-alcoholic wines like Lali could also have additional health benefits. A study published by The Atlantic in 2012 demonstrated that the alcohol in red wine may impede the cardiovascular benefits of the antioxidants inside of it. The non-alcoholic red wine was associated with decreased blood pressure and reducing risk of heart disease and stroke.
Removing the alcohol also means that Lali wines have fewer calories than their alcoholic counterparts. An 8.4 oz can of Lali Red is only 20 calories while a 5 oz glass of alcoholic red wine is often 125 calories.
Lali and most other non-alcoholic beers and wines are considered non-alcoholic according to the FDA, but they still have up to 0.5% ABV. This means that while some people who are pregnant, nursing or recovering alcoholics may see Lali and other non-alcoholic drinks as a safer option, the decision to consume them is a personal one that should be made only after consulting with a doctor or recognizing triggers that could lead to a relapse on sobriety. Lali is also not recommended for anyone under the age of 21.
Despite the fact that many people reported an increase in alcohol consumption in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, numbers show that growth in the non-alcoholic beverages (including soft drinks) is on the rise. Michelle said that restaurant managers have told her that customers have been asking for non-alcoholic beers and wines, and she wonders how many more don’t think to ask for it if it’s not on the menu.
Lali is the first non-alcoholic, still wine to be offered in a can. It is available in Red, White and Rosé. Michelle describes the wine as “fruit forward” and smooth that retains the aromas and mouthfeel of wine. People’s reaction to the wines often depend on their personal palate.
Photo courtesy of the Zoie Company
The Red Lali wine is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. It is described on the company website as having hints of “red berries, tart cranberry and cinnamon with an oaky, vanilla finish.”
The White is a crisp Sauvignon Blanc with “delicate floral, a refreshing hint of lemon, orange peel and peach, with notes of pineapple.”
The Rosé is a blend of the grape varieties Red Zinfandel, French Colombard and Pinot Grigio and is described as “elegant with bright strawberry, raspberry and peach, with a hint of minerality for balance.”
You can purchase Lali wine in packs of four cans or a tasting flight trio with one of each variety on their website, zoie.com or try it locally at Roseina’s Good Food & Wine to Go (1307 Shenandoah Rd.) or Del Ray Pizzeria (2218 Mount Vernon Ave.). The Toothmans are working to expand the number of places that sell Lali locally and nationwide.
