Fritz Secco Non Alcoholic NV

Fritz Secco Non Alcoholic NV is a lightly sparkling Perlwein from Rheinhessen, Germany, vinified entirely from Müller-Thurgau grapes and dealcoholized to preserve the fruit-forward character of the varietal. Perlwein, a traditional German category, sits between still wine and fully sparkling Sekt — gentle effervescence without the aggressive carbonation. This bottle gives Chicago drinkers a credible alternative to prosecco or cava when alcohol isn't part of the plan, with the structure and acidity that makes a wine feel like a wine, not a juice approximation. Rheinhessen is Germany's largest wine region, sitting along the Rhine's left bank southwest of Mainz, and Müller-Thurgau has been a workhorse varietal there since the early twentieth century — an early-ripening cross of Riesling and Madeleine Royale bred for aromatic lift and approachable acidity. The Fritz bottling undergoes standard fermentation before gentle dealcoholization, a process that strips ethanol without boiling away the volatile aromatics that define the grape. The result retains the floral and orchard-fruit profile Müller-Thurgau is known for, along with the crisp mineral backbone Rheinhessen's loess and limestone soils impart. The nose opens with white peach, Meyer lemon, and elderflower — bright, clean, and recognizably Germanic in its restraint. The palate delivers citrus pith and green apple, balanced by a thread of residual sugar that keeps the finish playful rather than bone-dry, and the light perlage lifts rather than weighs down. It works as an aperitif on its own, alongside oysters or ceviche, or as the base for a dealcoholized spritz with tonic and fresh herbs. It also stands in gracefully at celebrations where guests want the ritual of a toast without the alcohol, avoiding the cloying sweetness that plagues most grape-juice substitutes. Fritz Secco Non Alcoholic NV is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, for local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.