Juste – non-alcoholic

Justė non-alcoholic from Sattlerhof, made from forgotten quinces and herbs

Justė non-alcoholic from the Sattlerhof winery is a non-alcoholic food companion crafted from a long-forgotten quince variety and seven herbal extracts. Bottled unfiltered, it accompanies a meal as naturally as a glass of wine would.

Justė non-alcoholic is the non-alcoholic food companion from the Sattler family, whose winery in Sernau near Gamlitz manages 33 hectares of vines. It is not a non-alcoholic wine, nor is it a simple quince juice, but rather a unique drink of its own, made from fruit and herbs. It contains around 3 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, but no caffeine.

Quince, herbal spice, and a hint of pepper

The aroma leads first to the quince, that tart, waxy fruit that almost no one eats raw and yet everyone suddenly appreciates once cooked. Behind this are notes of yellow apple skin and a touch of floral honey, along with the bright bitterness that ripe quinces always bring with them.

On the palate, Justė is dry and silky, a result of the herbal extracts that give the drink its structure. A fine spiciness runs through it, accompanied by a hint of pepper and the cool astringency of green leaves. Sweetness never pushes to the fore, even though the fruit remains clearly recognizable.

In the finish, the quince lingers longer than expected, accompanied by the herbal bitterness that keeps the appetite whetted. This is precisely what sets Justė apart from the sweet sodas usually served as non-alcoholic alternatives.

In a white wine glass with fish and vegetables

The producer recommends a white wine glass and a temperature of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius; both make sense because it is the curve of the glass that releases the herbs, while the coolness holds them together. As a non-alcoholic aperitif, Justė kicks off the evening long before the first plate hits the table.

At the table, Justė stands where a dry white wine would normally be—meaning with steamed fish, roasted vegetables, or a mild cheese. A plate of fresh goat cheese with herbs also finds its counterpart here, without anything feeling like it is missing at the end.

Hannes Sattler runs the family hotel and restaurant, and at a table where not everyone is drinking wine, such a beverage is of great value. It gives you a companion that carries the evening instead of simply shortening it.

Forgotten quince and brewed herbs

The base consists of a long-forgotten quince variety, which gives the drink body without making it sweet. Its tart flesh provides acidity and aroma, where other fruits provide primarily sugar. Such old varieties have disappeared from most gardens, even though they are the ones that offer the most exciting flavors.

Added to this are seven herbal extracts—including yarrow, stinging nettle, and linden—which are brewed at different temperatures. Each plant releases its aromas at a specific heat, and it is from this patient process that the silky structure is born.

The drink is then bottled unfiltered in 745-milliliter bottles, which is why a fine sediment may appear at the bottom; a gentle swirl before pouring redistributes it. You can see how the estate handles its wines in the overview of the Sattlerhof Winery, and among the Austrian bottles, the Sauvignon Blanc South Styria is also waiting.

Justė – Ingredients and nutritional values

• Ingredients: water, quince, sugar, citric acid, linden blossoms, yarrow, stinging nettle
• Volume: 745 ml
• Energy: 44 kJ and 11 kcal per 100 ml
• Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 3 g, of which sugars 2.7 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Salt: 0 g
• non-alcoholic and caffeine-free
• bottled unfiltered
• Serving temperature: 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in a white wine glass