Method How it’s made

Spinning cone column

A thin-film vacuum column used to separate aroma and ethanol in stages. Common in wine industry language; less often explained on a back label.

By Karl Hill, Founder & Editor in Chief

2 min read
Explore 61 bottles All methods
Inside the process
  1. Fermented drink
  2. Thin-film vacuum column
  3. Alcohol removed

Conceptual illustration. Exact systems vary by producer.

How it works

A spinning cone column is a vacuum device that spreads wine or beer into a thin film so volatile compounds can be taken off in fractions. This page lists the bottles that cite it. The concept, and why it is not the same sentence as vacuum distillation, is How is alcohol removed from wine?. In principle, aroma can be captured, alcohol removed, and the aroma returned. In practice, the consumer-facing copy usually collapses into “spinning cone” or “vacuum.”

Some Noughty trade listings mention spinning-cone technology alongside vacuum distillation. We do not treat those sentences as identical. If a review needs a method badge, we want a primary source — a producer technical sheet, not a blog that used the phrase because it sounds expensive.

Spinning cones are dealcoholization equipment. Naming one is not a quality guarantee.

In this cellar

The clearest spinning-cone program tasted here is Giesen: Marlborough and Waipara fruit across 0% Riesling, 0% Rosé, and 0% Sauvignon Blanc — all scored 85 or higher, grape still readable, frames light.

South African Lautus Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc also cite the column and sit in the same band. Some Leitz sparkling cuvées in this cellar are filed under spinning cone when the producer source says so; the still Eins-Zwei-Zero Rieslings remain on the vacuum distillation page.

The cards below are the published spinning-cone set. For pink wine shopping across methods, see Best dealcoholized rosé.

Cite Karl Hill, “Spinning cone column,” The Dry Standard, https://drinkdrystandard.com/methods/spinning-cone/.

From the cellar

In the cellar with this method

61 bottles

The scores belong to the bottles in this cellar. Spinning cone and vacuum distillation follows both machines from wine to glass.

By grape or style

Chardonnay 10

Compare holds up to four. Want to try keeps a bottle in My Bottles.

87/100

Standout

Editor’s Pick

Luminara

Chardonnay

Wine · Chardonnay · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A Chardonnay drinker who wants butter, oak, and a finish that actually…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

86/100

Standout

Lautus

Chardonnay

Wine · Chardonnay · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A still white at the table — roast chicken, mild cheese, or a chilled…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

84/100

Isabel

Chardonnay

Wine · Chardonnay · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

Weeknight white, mild cheese, brunch when you want oak without a heavy…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

84/100

Artis

Chardonnay

Wine · Chardonnay · 0.0% ABV · Under $20

A glass when you want oak and cream rather than a fruit-driven…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

81/100

Almost Zero

Sparkling Dry

Wine · Chardonnay · 0.0% ABV · Under $20

A bright sparkling pour when citrus on the close is all you need from…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

79/100

Almost Zero

Chardonnay

Wine · Chardonnay · 0.3% ABV · Under $20

A soft, simple Chardonnay when apple, pear, and a touch of vanilla are…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

78/100

Be Well

Chardonnay

Wine · Chardonnay · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Weeknight white, roast chicken, or a mild cheese board when you want…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

77/100

Fre

Chardonnay

Wine · Chardonnay · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Only if a soft, muted Chardonnay is enough.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Sinzero

Chardonnay

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Chardonnay · 0.5% ABV

Chile · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Giesen

0% Chardonnay

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Chardonnay · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

New Zealand · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Sauvignon Blanc 8

85/100

Standout

Giesen

0% Sauvignon Blanc

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Fresh salads, hard cheese, tuna, or anyone who wants a Marlborough…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

84/100

Lautus

Sauvignon Blanc

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Warm-weather aperitif, oysters or a simple green salad, anyone who…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

84/100

Hand on Heart

Sauvignon Blanc

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · <0.5% ABV

A dry Sauvignon Blanc when lemon, peach, and lively acidity are…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

83/100

Sightlines by Ara

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A tart Sauvignon Blanc when grapefruit and fresh herbs should still be…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

79/100

Almost Zero

Wonderful White

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · 0.33% ABV

A light, lightly sweet white for green apple and citrus, when simple…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

78/100

Surely

Sauvignon Blanc

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

A sharp, chilled white when you want snap and can live with a pithy…

Hybrid Spinning cone

Giesen

0% Spritz Sauvignon Blanc

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · <0.5% ABV

New Zealand · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Fre

Sauvignon Blanc

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Sauvignon Blanc · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

United States · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Sparkling rosé 8

84/100

Sinzero

Sparkling Rosé

Wine · Sparkling rosé · 0.5% ABV

A cold aperitif glass when you want an easy, fruit-forward sparkling…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

84/100

Darling Cellars

Sparkling Rosé NV

Wine · Sparkling rosé · 0.45% ABV

Everyday sparkling rosé, particularly when you want gentle bubbles.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

83/100

Surely

Sparkling Rosé

Wine · Sparkling rosé · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

A dry sparkling rosé when you want real bubble energy and a red-fruit…

Hybrid Spinning cone

82/100

Underwood

Rosé Bubbles

Wine · Sparkling rosé · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

Casual drinking

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

82/100

Libby

Sparkling Rosé

Wine · Sparkling rosé · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A simple sparkling rosé when strawberry and cherry should feel like…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

79/100

Be Well

Sparkling Rosé

Wine · Sparkling rosé · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A cold, uncomplicated sparkling rosé when you want bubbles more than…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

78/100

Pierre Zéro

Sparkling Rosé

Wine · Sparkling rosé · 0.0% ABV · Under $20

Toasts, brunch, and the occasion that wants a foil capsule without the…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Van Hunks

Sparkling Rosé

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Sparkling rosé · <0.5% ABV

South Africa · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Sparkling 7

87/100

Standout

¡Hola!

0.0% Sparkling

Wine · Sparkling · 0.0% ABV · $20–$29

A toast or an aperitif when you want floral fizz with a citrus snap.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

84/100

Giesen

0% Sparkling Brut

Wine · Sparkling · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

An aperitif or a celebratory pour when freshness matters more than a…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

78/100

Fre

Sparkling Brut

Wine · Sparkling · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A simple brut when apple, lemon, and a short clean close are enough.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Van Hunks

Sparkling Blanc

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Sparkling · <0.5% ABV

South Africa · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Tedeschi

Blanc de Blanc Sparkling

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Sparkling · <0.5% ABV · $30+

United States · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Surely

Sparkling Brut

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Sparkling · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

United States · Documented

Hybrid Spinning cone

Darling Cellars

Sparkling Blanc NV

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Sparkling · 0.45% ABV

South Africa · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Rosé 7

86/100

Standout

Giesen

0% Rosé

Wine · Rosé · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Charcuterie, a warm afternoon, anyone who already likes the Giesen 0%…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

85/100

Standout

Lautus

Rosé

Wine · Rosé · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

A delicate rosé when citrus freshness and a slightly dry close are the…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

84/100

Thomson & Scott

Noughty Rosé

Wine · Rosé · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

A still pink at the table, not a toast.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

77/100

Pierre Zéro

Rosé (3 L bag-in-box)

Wine · Rosé · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

Weeknight pours, big tables, the box that lives in the fridge door.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

76/100

Fre

Rosé

Wine · Rosé · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A very thin rosé, and only if candy-like strawberry is all you want…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

72/100

Almost Zero

Ravishing Rosé

Wine · Rosé · 0.33% ABV · Under $20

The bottle you already keep buying.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Giesen

0% Spritz Rosé

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Rosé · <0.5% ABV

New Zealand · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Cabernet Sauvignon 6

91/100

Standout

Editor’s Pick

Luminara

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine · Cabernet Sauvignon · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A Cabernet pour when you want dark fruit, cedar, and tannin, and you…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

85/100

Standout

Isabel

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine · Cabernet Sauvignon · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

Weeknight red with grilled vegetables, pasta, or a mild hard cheese —…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

83/100

Sinzero

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine · Cabernet Sauvignon · <0.5% ABV

A smooth red when you want familiar Cabernet flavor, a gentle tannic…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

80/100

Hand on Heart

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine · Cabernet Sauvignon · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A soft Cabernet when dark fruit should end gently smoky, and tannin is…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

78/100

Fre

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine · Cabernet Sauvignon · <0.2% ABV · Under $20

A soft, juicy Cabernet when the fruit should stay in front and the oak…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

78/100

Be Well

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine · Cabernet Sauvignon · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A cold, tart Cabernet when you want dark fruit without a heavy pour.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Riesling 2

87/100

Standout

Giesen

0% Riesling

Wine · Riesling · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Spicy food, long dinners, anyone who wants Marlborough Riesling in the…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

86/100

Standout

Schmitges

Alkoholfrei Riesling

Wine · Riesling · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

An off-dry Riesling for the drinker who comes for the acidity and the…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Merlot 2

81/100

Giesen

0% Premium Red

Wine · Merlot · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

An easy red for plum and berries.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Pierre Zéro

Prestige Merlot

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Merlot · 0.0% ABV · $20–$29

France · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Syrah 2

Thomson & Scott

Noughty Rouge

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Syrah · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

South Africa · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Thomson & Scott

Noughty Monté

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Syrah · <0.5% ABV · $30+

South Africa · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Other bottles

88/100

Standout

Luminara

Red Blend

Wine · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A red when cherry and spice should still be there at the end of the sip.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

82/100

Lautus

Savvy Red

Wine · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Weeknight red with grilled vegetables or a mild cheese board — chill…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

81/100

Surely

Red Blend

Wine · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

A smooth everyday red when raspberry and a light oak finish should…

Hybrid Spinning cone

79/100

Summerland

Pinot Noir

Wine · Pinot Noir · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A tart, light red when freshness matters more than mid-palate weight.

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

79/100

Fre

Red Blend

Wine · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A soft red when tart cherry and a grape-skin edge have to stand in for…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

78/100

Sea Monster

Tidal Wave White

Wine · 0.5% ABV · Under $20

Everyday white-wine occasions, the value pick in the dealcoholized…

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Pierre Zéro

Signature Red Grenache

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Grenache · <0.5% ABV · $30+

France · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Thomson & Scott

Noughty Blanc

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · <0.5% ABV · $20–$29

South Africa · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

Giesen

0% Pinot Grigio

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Wine · Pinot Grigio · <0.5% ABV

New Zealand · Documented

Dealcoholized Spinning cone

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