We tried NONHQ, the world's first alcohol-free cellar door

A tour of the world’s first non-alcoholic cellar door reveals complex flavours hidden behind a nondescript building in suburban Melbourne, as Jo Stewart discovers.

April 6, 2019 is a date that is very close to the heart of Aaron Trotman. As founder of non-alcoholic wine alternative NON, it was the day his vision finally hit pay dirt with his very first sale to Beaconsfield fine dining restaurant O.MY. Since then, the NON juggernaut has rolled on, with the zero-alcohol tipple now stocked in restaurants and bars across Australia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, USA and beyond. There have also been other highlights, including hosting a fine dining experience at New York’s three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park and more recently, the opening of the NONHQ cellar door for tours and tastings.

NON is a sophisticated wine alternative. (Image: Glen Wilkie)

The location

Located in suburban south-east Melbourne on a street mostly populated by industrial manufacturing businesses, the NONHQ cellar door is a surprise package. The ultra-modern, clean and sleek interiors signal to visitors that we’re in for an out-of-the-ordinary cellar door experience.

The tasting room has sleek interiors. (Image: Nic Stephens)

The tour tasting experience

Stepping into the state-of-the-art kitchen, I’m introduced to the methods, techniques and ingredients the team use to perfect the balance of tannin, salinity, acidity and fruit that end up in each bottle of NON.

The NON ingredients create a depth of flavour.

From hand-steeping Egyptian chamomile to roasting batches of fresh cherries in the oven, much time and care is dedicated to creating a depth of flavour that lingers on the palate.

NON 3 Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu is the perfect accompaniment to a summer picnic.

In the moody, intimate tasting room, I’m treated to a sensory journey as each glass is paired to cheese and charcuterie, with Aaron sharing tasting notes and some stories of what went on behind the scenes to create each variety.

Treat yourself to a sensory journey at NONHQ. (Image: Nic Stephens)

The tart and slightly savoury NON3 Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu screams summer picnic while a bottle of NON7 Stewed Cherry & Coffee would be a great addition to a cosy winter dinner by an open fireplace.

The team balances the tannin, salinity, and acidity of fruit in each bottle of NON. (Image: Annika Kafcaloudis)

Aaron explains that NON is “a solution to an empty wine glass” by giving both drinkers and non-drinkers a sophisticated wine alternative that pairs well with food. NON drinks are also vegan, gluten-free and halal-certified, meaning people from all walks of life have embraced the brand.

NON beverages draw upon flavours like salted raspberry, toasted cinnamon and coffee. (Image: Nic Stephens)

Elevating the wine-tasting experience

The road to creating an innovative alt-wine product from scratch hasn’t been easy. Tenacity and grit were required to get the brand up and running, but with the cellar door tours experiencing strong bookings, Aaron feels he’s onto a winner, despite running mostly on blind faith.

“I literally jumped off a cliff and built a plane on the way down. And I still am,” says Aaron.

Meet NON founder Aaron Trotman. (Image: Glen Wilkie)

The NONHQ Tour details

The NONHQ Tour experience includes a meet the makers and experts behind NON, a flavour workshop in the NON kitchen, an intimate behind-the-scenes tour of the production process, a tasting experience of the range paired with cheese and charcuterie, and a complimentary bottle of NON to take home (RRP $30).

You can pre-book the NONHQ Tour for $50 on the website.