ARENSBAK

ARENSBAK was founded by entrepreneur Christian Arensbak in 2020. The company traces its impetus, per its own account, to the lack of tasteful non-alcoholic wines available and the global rise of sober curiosity. Recipe development spanned more than two years, and a single bottle takes around six weeks to produce.^[1]

The business is registered as ARENSBAK ApS, a Danish company with CVR number 42816094, based in Copenhagen.^[2]

Christian Arensbak — Founder. Christian Arensbak, an entrepreneur, founded ARENSBAK in 2020.^[1]

Bram Kerkhof — Co-founder. Bram Kerkhof is a co-founder of ARENSBAK, a Gastro-physicist with a background from Restaurant Noma's fermentation lab.^[3]

Emilie Øst-Jacobsen — Sommelier. Emilie Øst-Jacobsen is ARENSBAK's sommelier and, per the producer, the architect behind the company's flavor composition. She trained at the Michelin-starred Kong Hans Kælder and Restaurant Alchemist.

ARENSBAK classifies its products as proxy wines — which the company describes as non-alcoholic, multi-layered compositions modelled on the experience of great wines without trying to copy or imitate them. All production processes are done by hand, including blending, stirring, tasting, and scenting.^[3],[4]

On sustainability, the company reports using deposit-return bottles in Denmark and employing logistics and transport modes that minimise CO2 emissions. Its packaging for 0.75cl bottles is FSC-certified.^[3]

ARENSBAK's lineup consists of four non-alcoholic proxies: White, Red, Rosé, and Effervescent. Each is classified by the producer as a wine proxy crafted for culinary pairing. All products contain no more than 0.5% residual alcohol, originating from fermentation.^[2],[3]

All ARENSBAK proxies are built on a base of fermented tea, which the company says provides acids and tannins that give structure and body. Natural tannins, body and acidity are developed through the choice of tea, fermentation techniques, ingredients and preserving methods, described by the producer as yielding a long, round aftertaste and well-balanced dryness.^[2]

Double fermentation on a kombucha base. ARENSBAK products are double fermented. The first fermentation produces kombucha on a base of selected teas using a SCOBY; the second fermentation layers flavors with whole botanicals. In this process the alcohol produced is transformed into organic acids, resulting in what the company calls a fermented flavour profile, and the final product is pasteurized to maintain quality over time. All four proxies share this method.^[2],[3]

• White — double fermented on selected teas with a SCOBY, then infused with whole botanicals
• Red — double fermented on selected teas with a SCOBY, then infused with whole botanicals
• Rosé — double fermented on selected teas with a SCOBY, then infused with whole botanicals
• Effervescent — double fermented on selected teas with a SCOBY, then infused with whole botanicals

Oak layering for tannin and dryness. ARENSBAK's natural tannins and dryness derive from carefully selected teas together with layering with oak. This oak layering recurs across the White, Red, Rosé and Effervescent, each of which is built on a fermented-tea base with natural tannins and dryness from selected teas and oak.^[2]

• White — natural tannins and dryness from carefully selected teas and layering with oak
• Red — natural tannins and dryness from carefully selected teas and layering with oak
• Rosé — natural tannins and dryness from carefully selected teas and layering with oak
• Effervescent — natural tannins and dryness from carefully selected teas and layering with oak

Tea sourcing — leaves from trees, not bushes. ARENSBAK sources tea leaves that are handpicked from trees, not bushes, with roots extending deep into the soil, which the company says imparts unique regional terroir characteristics. The proxies draw on three teas.^[2],[4]

• Wuniuzao Longjing (green), Zhejiang province, China — forms the base of both Rosé and Effervescent; described as fresh and elegant with hints of flowers, dried grass, a touch of sweetness, and a dry finish
• Monkey Picked Tie Guan Yin (oolong), Fujian province, China — used in White, harvested at 900 meters above sea level, slowly dried and oxidized, yielding floral, citrusy and sweet notes
• Gong Ting Palace Shu Puerh (black), Yunnan province, China — used in Red, grown above 2,000 meters, picked from trees 60–100 years old, smoked and fermented with an earthy, sweetish flavor and a hint of vanilla

Second-fermentation botanicals. In the second fermentation, ARENSBAK infuses the kombucha with whole botanicals, varying by product. These include marigold flowers, gooseberries, lemon grass, juniper berries, sour cherries, and dried mushrooms.^[4]

Production standards. A bottle takes around six weeks to produce, and all production processes are carried out by hand. From December 2023, products carry a shelf life of three years from the production date; products produced before December 2023 have a one-year shelf life from the production date. All ARENSBAK proxy wines are vegan friendly, and the Red, Rosé and Effervescent are certified organic.^[3]

Across the range, ARENSBAK aims for natural tannins, body and acidity, with what the company describes as a long, round aftertaste and well-balanced dryness. The Rosé is described as bringing a subtle and refreshing note.^[2]

Nutrition. Per-100g nutritional values are published for the range.

• Red — 69 kJ/14 kcal, 0g fat, 2.4g carbohydrates (2.0g sugars), 0g protein, 0.01g salt
• White — 64 kJ/15 kcal, 0g fat, 2.9g carbohydrates (2.7g sugars), 0g protein, 0.01g salt
• Rosé — 64 kJ/15 kcal, 0g fat, 3.2g carbohydrates (3.1g sugars), 0g protein, 0.01g salt
• Effervescent — 65 kJ/15 kcal, 0g fat, 2.8g carbohydrates (2.7g sugars), 0g protein, 0.01g salt

Pairings. ARENSBAK publishes food pairing recipes, including pairings with Bresse Chicken, oysters with gooseberries, turbot with white asparagus, and Danish black lobster. The Rosé is paired with butter-poached Danish black lobster.^[5]

ARENSBAK has a collaboration with Stadil et Stadil.^[5]

At the World Alcohol-Free Awards 2024, ARENSBAK Effervescent won Gold, ARENSBAK Rosé won Silver, and ARENSBAK Red was Commended. ARENSBAK Effervescent was also named part of Vogue Magazine (NL)'s list of 17 stylish gifts under 50 euros.