Freed From

Made The Grade®

Our discovery process - Made the Grade®

We searched the world for exceptional non-alcoholic drinks, and our search continues. At September 2026, we have considered 9,100 drinks and 2,300+ producers from 57 countries.

Taste

Out in the field, our 25 global tasting stations seek out drinks with character, craft, complexity, balance and flavour, and we send anything extraordinary to London to be independently evaluated.

taste

The Independent Panel

The Independent Panel brings together 25 master sommeliers, mixologists and flavour experts to taste, grade and score the drinks. Only those that meet their standards make it into the Freed From® Collection. So far, only 3.8% have Made the Grade®.

Introducing The Independent Panel

- experts who judge or have judged our favourites -

Henri Chapon MS, DipWSET

MASTER SOMMELIER
WSET Level 4 Diploma. Maître Sommelier de l’UDSF. UK Best Sommelier, 3rd Best Sommelier of Europe. WSET Certified Educator (Wines)

Eric Zwiebel MS

MASTER SOMMELIER
Master Sommelier 2000. 2nd Best ASI Sommelier of the World 2007. 4th Best ASI Sommelier of the World 2013. Honoured The Legend Award by Top 100 Sommeliers Award 2023

André Figuinha

SOMMELIER A professional sommelier named as 2019 'Sommelier of the Year' by Mesa Marcada and Grandes Escolhas magazine

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Camille Vidal

DRINKS EXPERT
Globally recognised drinks expert with 20 years' industry experience. Creator of Mindful Cocktails™. Founder of La Maison Wellness

Rafa Bellido

SOMMELIER President of the Spanish Union of Sommeliers (UES), Presi. Somm Federation. Andalusia, Presi. Aso. from Somm. Seville, AAGT Academic

Federico G. Dadone MIH

SOMMELIER
Award-winning General Manager and sommelier with 20 years’ experience delivering world class service in luxury establishments

Federica Zanghirella

SOMMELIER
Vice President @UK Sommelier Association. Italian Wine Expert. Documentary Director/ Filmmaker

Stefan Kobald

SOMMELIER
Head Sommelier at Core by Clare Smyth. Love hospitality, and creating memories and experiences for my guests

Tom Surgey

WINE EXPERT
Author, wine expert and TV presenter, Tom is a regular expert on ITV's Love Your Weekend. His book, How to Drink Wine, was published in August 2024

Romané Basset

WINE EXPERT
Co-Founding Trustee & Head of Operations at The Gérard Basset Foundation. Secretary of the UK Sommelier Academy. Harpers Wine & Spirit 30 Under 30, 2022

Roberto Colucci DipWSET

SOMMELIER Floor Manager, Highbury Vintners

Samuel Weatherill

SOMMELIER
Wine Director at etch, by Steven Edwards

Majken Bech-Bailey

SOMMELIER & EXPERT PRODUCER
A pioneer of alcohol-free wine alternatives and founder of BAEK

Piers Milburn

EXPERT PRODUCER Founder of Sprigs Co, based at Pythouse Kitchen Garden, and sister company, Sprigster Drinks

Derek Brown

MIXOLOGIST Founder of Drink Company & Mindful Drinking Fest, Award-Winning author & 2025 Presidential Leadership Scholar

Nicolas Medicamento

MIXOLOGIST Founder, Doctor Cocktail Ltd and former Head Bartender, Savoy, London

Luca Cicalese

MIXOLOGIST
Head Mixologist, Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese at Corinthia, London

Francesco Pittala

MIXOLOGIST Founder, Liquids & Creativity Ltd. IWSC Judge

Vincenzo Ciaccio

MIXOLOGIST
Head Mixologist at CORE by Clare Smith

Swanand 'Swani' Korgaonkar

MIXOLOGIST
Head of Drinks Heckfield Place. Former Drinks Head, Berkeley Hotel, London

Sly Augustin

MIXOLOGIST
Owner & Managing Director of Trailer Happiness, Notting Hill, London

Maxim Schulte

MIXOLOGIST
Co-Founder, Herb All Drinks. Former Head Bartender, Savoy Hotel's The American Bar

Lora Strizic

HOTELIER
Founder, Another Prospective, Principal-Villa Loredana (IT), Prohibition Cocktail Bar (UK). Former PIG Hotel Group et al

Steve Pineau

MIXOLOGIST Restaurateur/
Entrepreneur, Principal-Villa Lorenda (IT), Prohibition Cocktail Bar UK, Old Brampton Wine, UK

Charles Pashby-Taylor

SOMMELIER
Fine Wine Client Partner, FINE + RARE