Oddbird – world leader in alcohol-free wines
When Star Wine List of the Year concluded with the international final in Stockholm in June, sommeliers from 19 countries were present. Among the wines they sampled was a unique new addition to the Star Wine List's partners: Oddbird from Sweden.
Oddbird was created by an unusual entrepreneur in the wine world: Moa Gurbuzer, who was previously a family therapist in Gothenburg. Today, the company is a global leader in its category.
"We have distributors in 16 countries and are continuously growing. Through our collaboration with research centers in Alsace, we are developing an entirely new category – de-alcoholized wines. We lead the development by producing really good products with high and complex flavors, but entirely without alcohol. We also collaborate with some of the best vineyards in the world. We have a method that extracts maximum flavor during the de-alcoholization process, ensuring the high quality of our products. All these components create Oddbird and our brand. We proudly present our premium products and continuously drive the development of this category forward. We love pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible for non-alcoholic wines," says Moa Gurbuzer.
Why did you start Oddbird?
"I started Oddbird with a vision to change the alcohol norm in society. With this, I hoped to help all the children and adults who suffer from alcohol every day in our society. With a long background as a family therapist, I saw up close the significant harm alcohol can have on a person. From this, the idea was born to create really good wines, but entirely free from alcohol, to create a better and more inclusive society for everyone."
What is your goal with Oddbird?
"My goal with Oddbird has always been to change behaviors around alcohol in society. Additionally, I want to drive the conversation and change regarding how non-alcoholic wines are perceived. A product that has long been stigmatized and considered 'tasteless and boring' – this is what I want to change with Oddbird. I want the question 'Do you want your wine with or without alcohol?' to become as natural as 'Do you want your coffee with or without milk?' By ensuring our products at Oddbird maintain high quality and rich flavors, we make it possible for those who want to enjoy a good glass of wine – completely without alcohol."
How do you work with restaurants and sommeliers today?
"Today, we have several ambassadors who work for us in introducing our products to HORECA. Primarily, our sparkling wines are brought in and served at many restaurants. This is something we would like to expand, giving more people the opportunity to try more products from our range."
Why did you choose to collaborate with Star Wine List and what did you think of the international final?
"We chose to collaborate with Star Wine List because it is an incredible opportunity for us to reach out with our wines. Our wines need to be experienced to be understood. Through Star Wine List, we can reach more restaurants and wine enthusiasts looking for good non-alcoholic wines. Being part of the international final was something extraordinary. Being surrounded by such knowledgeable people and receiving the incredible response we did for our wines was very special. Hearing their stories and passion for wine was fantastic; I am already looking forward to next year!"
What is your vision for Oddbird in restaurants?
"My vision is for Oddbird to be the obvious choice for restaurants to include in their wine menus. Ideally, I would like to see non-alcoholic beverages highlighted earlier in the menus, rather than hidden at the back. My vision is for it to be easy to drink wine without alcohol at restaurants, with no distinction made between alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine. They should be equal and treated the same by restaurants. With Oddbird's products on the menu, opportunities are created so everyone can choose for the evening, without compromising on taste or quality, 'Do I want my wine with or without alcohol today?'"
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