Altina Liberate Pepperberry Shiraz - 6x750ml | Sans Drinks Australia

The Altina Liberate Pepperberry Shiraz is one of the most convincing non-alcoholic red wines weve tasted, and it earns that praise by doing something genuinely different. Rather than trying to perfectly mimic a traditional Shiraz a near-impossible task without alcohols body and structure, Altina leans into native Australian Mountain Pepperberry to fill the gap, and the result is a bold, spicy, food-friendly wine that stands on its own merits. Its not flawless, but its a standout in a category that has historically struggled to deliver.

What It Is The Altina Liberate Pepperberry Shiraz is a de-alcoholised Australian Shiraz blended with Mountain Pepperberry Tasmannia lanceolata, a native Australian botanical thats been used in Aboriginal traditional medicine for centuries. The wine is made using spinning cone technology, a low-temperature, low-pressure process that removes alcohol without adding chemicals or wrecking the base wines flavour profile. The result sits at less than 0.02 ABV, which is comparable to what youd find naturally occurring in fruit juice.

Its certified vegan, gluten-free, and contains no added sugar, no grape juice concentrate, and no artificial colours or flavours. At roughly 84kJ 20 calories per 150ml serve with less than 0.1g of sugar, fat, and carbohydrates, its about as clean-label as a wine alternative gets.

Altina itself is a small, female-led, Australian-owned business founded in 2018 in Canberra by Christina Delay who holds a PhD in Plant Biology and Alan Tse. That botanical science background clearly shows in the product.

Who Its For This wine is built for anyone who loves a full-bodied red but doesnt want the alcohol. That includes people doing Dry July or Sober October, those whove stopped drinking for health reasons, designated drivers who refuse to settle for sparkling water, and anyone who simply wants to cut back without giving up the ritual of a proper glass of wine with dinner. If youre shopping for a non-alcoholic gift that doesnt feel like an afterthought, this bottle looks and pours like the real thing.

How It Tastes

Pour it into a glass and youll notice a deep, dark colour that immediately sets it apart from the watery rosé-tinted non-alcoholic reds you might have tried before. On the nose, theres a rush of dark fruit, specifically blackcurrant and cherry, with a peppery warmth that announces the Mountain Pepperberry straight away.

The palate delivers juicy red fruits, dark chocolate, and vanilla, followed by a layered, lingering spice that builds across the finish. Its dry and smooth, which is critical too many alcohol-free reds lean on sweetness to compensate for the missing body, and this one largely avoids that trap. The IWSC judges who awarded it a Silver Medal described pronounced flavours of cherry, lavender, and violet, and that floral complexity is genuinely there if you pay attention.

The pepperberry is the star ingredient and the key differentiator. It adds a warmth and tannin-like grip that most non-alcoholic reds simply cant achieve. Its a clever botanical solution to the fundamental problem of the category alcohol provides body, structure, and tannin-softening in traditional reds, and without it, wines tend to taste hollow. The pepperberry fills that space with real character.

Pros

Genuinely bold, complex flavour profile with dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla, and layered pepperberry spice

IWSC Silver Medal winner, validated by international judges

Exceptionally low calorie 20 cal per serve with no added sugar, no concentrate, and no artificial anything

• Certified vegan and gluten-free
• Mountain Pepperberry is rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, zinc, calcium, and magnesium
• Less than 0.02 ABV, one of the lowest on the Australian market
• Strong food-pairing versatility comparable to a traditional Shiraz
• Made by a small, female-led Australian business with genuine botanical expertise

Cons

The pepperberry intensity wont suit everyone if you prefer a softer, fruit-forward red, this may feel too assertive

Once opened, the bottle needs to be refrigerated and consumed within 2 days, so its not ideal for occasional sippers

Some reviewers find the sweetness level slightly off from what they expect of a Shiraz, even though its technically low-sugar

Non-alcoholic red wine will never perfectly replicate the mouthfeel that alcohol provides manage expectations accordingly

The Nutritional and Wellness Angle

Beyond just being alcohol-free, theres a genuine wellness story here. Mountain Pepperberry produces around three times the antioxidants of blueberries, and its packed with phenolic compounds, zinc, and magnesium. Youre not just avoiding alcohols downsides youre actually getting some functional benefits from the key botanical ingredient. Altina has leaned further into this direction with their newer Avec FlowState range, which adds L-theanine and magnesium, but even this original Pepperberry Shiraz carries real nutritional credentials.

The Verdict

The Altina Liberate Pepperberry Shiraz is a genuinely impressive achievement in a category where most products disappoint. Its bold, its interesting, and its built with real thought and botanical expertise. The pepperberry wont be for everyone, and youll need to finish the bottle within a couple of days of opening, but for anyone who wants a serious, food-worthy, alcohol-free red wine, this is one of the best options available in Australia right now. Pour it with confidence. Shop Now at Sans Drinks