Our Story
Cognato – meaning “closely related to”
Cognato was founded by cousins David Sommestad and Adam Malmnäs with a simple ambition: to create dealcoholised wine we genuinely wanted to drink ourselves.
With roots in both Sweden and South Africa, Cognato was built on a shared belief that wine culture should be shaped by taste, ritual and connection — not alcohol. We wanted something elegant, dry and food-friendly: wine with real character, made for the table and suited to modern life.
“Cognato was born from a simple belief: choosing dealcoholised wine should never feel like a compromise.”
From the beginning, our goal was not simply to remove alcohol, but to preserve the pleasure and experience that make wine meaningful. By starting with real wine and respecting its origin, craft and character, we offer a more thoughtful way to enjoy wine — on your own terms, and without judgement.
After extensive research, we found the right production partners in South Africa, where Cognato’s story began. Our first wines launched in Sweden in 2019 through Systembolaget, confirming what we had believed from the outset: there was space for a more refined and enjoyable alternative in the world of dealcoholised wine.
Since then, our collection has grown to include rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc and sparkling wine, each crafted with the same focus on balance, freshness and drinkability.
Our original South African range is Fairtrade certified, reflecting our commitment to responsible sourcing and long-term partnerships in the winelands where our story began. For us, Fairtrade is about more than certification — it is about supporting fair labour conditions, stronger communities and a more thoughtful way of building a wine brand.
Today, Cognato continues to evolve as a premium collection of dealcoholised wines created for real meals, real moments and modern life.
