PROXY: wine rethought, without the alcohol

Originally, "proxy" describes a representative that acts on behalf of someone or something else. In drinks, PROXY stands for a different approach: an alcohol-free alternative that reinterprets the experience of wine without imitating it. What defines the "wine proxy" category in general, and how it differs from grape juice, spritzers or dealcoholised wine, is covered in What is a wine proxy? This article is about BOUCHE's own PROXY line: the editions, how they are made, and what each one is for.

Our PROXIES are not dealcoholised wines. They are carefully developed wine alternatives on a kombucha base. Fermented tea, selected ingredients and craft give a complex drink with acidity, structure and fine tannins.

What makes a PROXY

• Complexity: fermented tea, fruit, herbs and spices build depth.
• Structure: balanced acidity and fine tannins give the wine-like mouthfeel.
• Versatility: made for the table, for food pairings and for mindful drinking.

Our PROXIES

Every edition is a single batch: brewed once, never repeated. Each has its own product page with ingredients, nutrition and current availability. What is in stock right now is in the PROXY collection.

PROXY • A

• Base: house-smoked oolong tea
• Colour: cloudy dark orange
• Aroma: musk, smoked applewood, cooked apple, winter spices
• Palate: blueberry, coconut, ripe pear
• Food pairing: root vegetables, game and poultry roasts, risotto, nutty bread, stews
• Style: cool, light red wine
• Alcohol: 0.2 to 0.5% vol.
• Serving temperature: 15 °C

PROXY • B

• Base: walnut leaf and quince
• Colour: cloudy light gold
• Aroma: grain husk, black and white tea, stone fruit, oak
• Palate: apricot, gooseberry, physalis, honey, oxidised stone fruit
• Food pairing: fermented vegetables, mustard salads, seafood, grilled fish, hard cheese
• Style: fresh, mineral white wine
• Alcohol: 0.2 to 0.5% vol.
• Serving temperature: 12 °C

PROXY • E

• Base: Snow Bud white tea
• Colour: light gold, slightly cloudy
• Aroma: sage, fermented honeycomb, silver berry, stone fruit
• Palate: fine acidity, subtle tannins, fresh resin
• Food pairing: seafood, young goat cheese, grilled vegetables
• Style: seasonal single batch, made with Gut&Bösel in the Oderbruch
• Alcohol: 0.2 to 0.5% vol.
• Serving temperature: well chilled

PROXY • C

• Base: genmaicha, sencha and kaffir lime leaves
• Colour: light, slightly cloudy yellow
• Aroma: citrus, green tea, popcorn, roasted nuts
• Palate: lemongrass, lime, earthy rice, mild sencha, fine carbonation
• Food pairing: sushi, Asian salads, seafood, goat cheese, aperitif snacks
• Style: elegant alternative to sparkling wine
• Alcohol: 0.2 to 0.5% vol.
• Serving temperature: 8 to 10 °C

PROXY • F

• Base: fermented Pu-Erh tea with ginger and Szechuan pepper
• Colour: light amber
• Aroma: fresh ginger, citrus peel, Szechuan pepper, white blossom
• Palate: spicy heat, lively acidity, fine sparkle, long clean finish
• Food pairing: Asian cooking, spicy dishes, sushi, fried vegetables, rich curries
• Style: aromatic, spiced proxy
• Alcohol: 0.2 to 0.5% vol.
• Serving temperature: 8 to 10 °C

Our approach

PROXY grew out of our kombucha work and the wish for alcohol-free drinks with the complexity of wine. We do not remove alcohol. We build the drink without it from the start, through precise fermentation, maceration and craft. How to match the editions with food, from oysters to cheese, is in the BOUCHE Pairing Guide.

The PROXY series covers several styles, inspired by classic red, white and sparkling wines and deliberately reinterpreted. Every edition is brewed only once; more on that in PROXY Limited: a new era begins.

FAQ

What is the difference between a PROXY and alcohol-free wine?

Alcohol-free wine was once wine and had its alcohol removed afterwards. A PROXY is built without alcohol from the start, through fermentation, maceration and blending.

How much alcohol does a PROXY contain?

Between 0.2 and 0.5% vol. The legal limit for "alcohol-free" in Germany and the EU is 0.5%, not 0.0%.

Are all PROXY editions permanently available?

No. Every edition is a single batch, brewed once and never repeated. What is currently available is in the PROXY collection.

What does a PROXY go best with?

Food. Acidity, structure and tannins are built for it. Which style suits which course is in the BOUCHE Pairing Guide.