ZENO, the award-winning, alcohol-liberated wine brand founded by wine trade veterans David Hodgson and Will Willis, is accelerating its next phase of growth across the UK and international markets, building on strong commercial traction over the past year.
Founded in 2022, ZENO was created to address one of the biggest challenges facing the alcohol-free wine category, namely delivering a genuine wine experience without the alcohol. Its wines are made from the best grapes grown on organically farmed Spanish vineyard with a history dating back to 1853, before being gently de-alcoholised using low-temperature vacuum technology.
The company has established listings with major UK retailers including Waitrose and Ocado, alongside growing on-trade distribution and exports across 12 international markets, including the US. In the last 12 months, on-trade revenue has grown by 70% and retail has risen by 65%. ZENO expects to grow by a further 60% in the next year.
ZENO has also built significant independent recognition for its wines, being named Non-Alcoholic Wine Producer of the Year by the London International Wine Competition in both 2025 and 2026.
David Hodgson, founder of ZENO, comments, “We founded ZENO because we believed choosing not to drink alcohol shouldn’t mean compromising on the experience of drinking wine. Over the past four years we’ve built the foundations of the business, from developing the wines and securing independent recognition to establishing retail, hospitality and international distribution.
“We are now at an exciting point in our growth journey, and we’re focused on building on that foundation by increasing our distribution in the UK and particularly accelerating our opportunities internationally.”
ZENO’s growth strategy centres on four priorities: deepening UK and international sales; strengthening brand marketing and PR; building working capital and inventory to support wider distribution; and continued product innovation, including new formats.
Will Willis, co-founder of ZENO, added, “The alcohol-free drinks market has moved well beyond being a niche alternative. The global no- and low-alcohol market is projected to reach $46.5bn by 2034, with alcohol-free wine one of the fastest-growing segments. In the UK, the market is currently estimated to be worth £147m and forecast to grow by 8.4% year-on-year[1].
“Consumers are clearly becoming more discerning about what they drink and, increasingly, they want the freedom to moderate without stepping away from premium food and drink experiences.
“We believe wine has a particularly significant opportunity here, but quality has to come first. Our focus has always been on making a wine that stands on its own merits, rather than simply creating an alternative to alcoholic wine.”
With the global no- and low- alcohol market continuing to expand and premiumisation creating opportunities beyond traditional alcohol occasions, ZENO believes the category is entering a new phase of development, one in which quality, provenance and brand credibility will become increasingly important.
ZENO’s ambition is to build on this foundation to become a leading international premium alcohol-free wine brand.
Imagery can be downloaded here.
ZENO appeared on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den yesterday pitching for investment to fuel its next stage of growth.
ZENO is produced with alcohol gently removed through high-vacuum, low-temperature distillation designed to preserve aroma, structure and character.
The range includes the ZENO Alcohol-Liberated Viura, Bobal Rosé, Tempranillo Cabernet, Sparkling NV and Sparkling Rosé NV, offering a premium, full-flavoured alternative for those seeking to moderate without compromise.
Zeno’s next level “Virtues’ range launches this Autumn, with a Bush Vine, Barrel Aged Tempranillo 2023.
ZENO is available to buy at Waitrose, Majestic, The Wine Society, Ocado, Amathus and quality independents as well as on trade establishments.
[1] KAM Research