The Tipsy Truth: A Guide to the Best Non-Alcoholic Wines
"Wine with no alcohol? What’s the point?!" I get it. As a bartender and someone who loves to shoot one back, I used to preach the same sentiment. But making more options available means that all customers, everywhere, can have a much more inclusive experience. Just a few years ago, if you wanted a mocktail, you probably got a glass of syrupy soda water. Now, more people can have a social experience with whatever, and wherever, they choose.
This is where non-alcoholic wines come in. Gone are the days of sugary, artificial-tasting substitutes. The world of non-alcoholic wines has exploded, offering an exciting array of choices that truly capture the essence of their alcoholic counterparts.
But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to navigate. This guide will help you find the best non-alcoholic wines for your taste buds and drinking preferences.
Two Paths to Non-Alcoholic Wine:
Before diving into the reviews, it’s important to understand the different approaches to creating non-alcoholic wines:
Dealcoholized Wines: This is the process of removing alcohol from already fermented wine. This is achieved using a vacuum distillation machine, which essentially separates the alcohol from the wine while retaining the aromas and flavors. The resulting "essence" is then often blended with juice concentrates to make it more palatable. While dealcoholized wines aim to provide a familiar taste, they often lack the complexity of the original wine due to the removal of alcohol.
- Wine Alternatives: These beverages, unlike dealcoholized wines, have never contained alcohol. They typically involve a base liquid – like tea, vinegar, or verjus – and then incorporate fruits, herbs, botanicals, and spices. These alternatives don’t seek to replicate the exact experience of wine; they stand on their own as a distinct and unique category.
Criteria for Selection:
For this guide, I focused on direct-to-consumer non-alcoholic wines available in the United States. I excluded beverages that identify themselves as aperitifs, even if they incorporate functional aspects like adaptogens. My goal was to highlight beverages that were the closest in resemblance to alcoholic wines and offered unique and enjoyable experiences. I considered various factors:
Calories and Sugar Content: I prioritized options that were lower in calories and sugar, as these are important elements for many consumers.
Resemblance to Alcoholic Wine: I assessed how closely the non-alcoholic wines mirrored their alcoholic counterparts in terms of aroma, texture, and overall taste.
Complexity: I sought out beverages that offered layered flavor profiles, reflecting the complexity found in alcoholic wines.
- Overall Experience: The final factor was, of course, taste! I looked for options that were flavorful, satisfying, and enjoyable to drink.
Table of Contents:
- Best Red Wine Alternative: Muri Fade to Black
- Best White Wine Alternative: Proxies Gold Crush
- Best Rosé Alternative: Kally Rosé Sparkler
- Best Dealcoholized Red Wine: Sovi Reserve Red
- Best Dealcoholized Sparkling Red Wine: Grüvi Sangria
- Best Dealcoholized White Wine: Studio Null Grüner Weiss
- Best Dealcoholized Sparkling White Wine: Prima Pavé Blanc de Blancs
- Best Dealcoholized Rosé: Noughty Rosé
- Best Dealcoholized Sparkling Rosé: Noughty Sparkling Rosé
The Best Red Wine Alternative
For a red wine alternative, I looked for something that would honor the ritual of drinking wine: a beverage that could be paired with food, yet enjoyable on its own as well. Muri – a Copenhagen-based company celebrating Danish gastronomy – fit the bill. Their fermented wine alternatives are works of art, thanks in part to founder Murray Paterson’s previous work as a distiller at Copenhagen’s Empirical Spirits.
Fade to Black is a standout example. Made with black and red currant, kefir, and pine needles; it’s fermented and fizzy, but much more pleasant than kombucha. It’s fruity, rich, and earthy.
For a lighter alternative, Yamilé offers warm notes and a smoky aftertaste, thanks to a blend of gooseberry juice, smoked rhubarb, and pink peppercorn.
On the other side of the spectrum, Seraphim prioritizes functional elements. Their Cacao Blend provides a chocolate-covered raspberry experience with a bitter twang, while their Cassia Blend boasts dark berries and cinnamon notes. Founder Stephanie Schaich Bricken infused the blends with reishi mushroom and amethyst crystals, adding an element of intrigue.
The Best White Wine Alternative
I crave refreshment in a white wine alternative, something I could sip easily on a sunny day. Proxies’ Gold Crush and Kally’s Orchard Sage stand out for their unique flavor combinations, but Gold Crush’s refreshing carbonation takes the lead. Gold Crush boasts notes of pear and fennel, offering incredible complexity. Proxies founder Charlie Friedmann designed their wine alternatives for food pairing, and the evidence is clear. Kally’s Orchard Sage lives up to its name, showcasing a subtle sage note.
Other notable white wine alternatives include:
Three Spirit’s Sharp: Light, crisp, and refreshing with ginger notes and a natural funk.
Muri’s Koji Rice Series 1: Creamy and warm with sweet rice wine and lavender notes.
TÖST: Has a pleasant tea base, but lacks complexity.
- Jukes 1: Quite acidic, and lacking in complexity despite being well-made.
The Best Rosé Alternative
Kally is a leader in the wine alternative space, found in many Michelin star restaurants nationwide. Each bottle boasts a biodynamic and organic verjus base made from grapes harvested in California’s Alexander Valley. Kally’s Rosé Sparkler embodies the essence of a sparkling rosé, offering a dry, cheerfully fizzy experience with strawberry hints and their signature verjus base—in this case, a chardonnay verjus.
Other rosé alternatives worth considering:
Three Spirit’s Spark: Earthy funk, a peppery spice aftertaste. Includes adaptogens for an uplifting feeling.
TÖST Rosé: Predominantly tea-based, pleasant but lacks complexity.
- Grüvi’s Bubbly Rosé: Fruity, but very sweet, best enjoyed during the daytime.
The Best Dealcoholized Red Wine
Sovi stands out for their commitment to creating premium dealcoholized wines. Sommelier Julia Littauer and her husband Alexander co-founded the company after attending Cornell University. Unlike many other NA wines, Sovi’s grapes – grown near Napa, California – are chosen with the intention to be dealcoholized, resulting in a superior taste.
Reserve Red, with its long finish, is my top pick. It’s drier and bolder than the standard Sovi Red Blend. Reserve Red boasts extended oak barrel aging, giving it a sophisticated edge.
Other promising dealcoholized reds include:
Luminara Red Blend: Tannic body, resembling an alcoholic red.
Giesen’s New Zealand Premium Red: Good resemblance to alcoholic red, but lacks body.
Joyus Cabernet Sauvignon: Sweetest of the category, due to the addition of grape juice concentrate.
- Noughty’s Rouge: Smooth but lacking depth, made with only dealcoholized Syrah wine.
The Best Dealcoholized Sparkling Red Wine
Sparkling reds are uncommon even in the world of alcoholic wines, but they offer a delightful texture and excitement when dealcoholized. Grüvi’s canned sangria is a game-changer, resembling a classic pitcher sangria with fresh fruit floating at the top. The sweetness is undeniable, but that’s what sangrias are all about.
Other notable dealcoholized sparkling reds:
Studio Null Prickly Red: Offers a mouthfeel most similar to alcoholic wine.
- Surely’s Bubbly Red: Pleasant bubbles, but the others in this category feel more developed.
The Best Dealcoholized White Wine
Studio Null’s Grüner Weiss and Noughty’s Blanc are remarkably similar. Grüner Weiss, the latest addition to Studio Null’s catalog, boasts a citric tang resembling an alcoholic white, and has undergone skin contact which adds distinct layers of character. Studio Null is a leader in the NA space, sourcing their grapes from southern Austria.
Other white wine options include:
Oceano’s alcohol-removed chardonnay: Warm body, a good choice for chardonnay lovers.
Giesen’s Riesling: Extreme sweetness, tastes like a dessert wine.
- Giesen Pinot Grigio: Lacks complexity.
The Best Dealcoholized Sparkling White Wine
Prima Pavé’s Blanc de Blancs is the driest of the sparkling white options I sampled. This bubbly doesn’t rely on added sugar or juice, delivering a light, complex flavor profile and a delightful mouthfeel. Founders Dejou and Marco Marano have created a line of sophisticated NA sparkling wines from northern Italy, making them a fine champagne substitute for celebratory occasions.
Other noteworthy dealcoholized sparkling whites:
Giesen’s Sparkling Brut: Crisp, due to its increased amount of bubbles.
Noughty’s Nonalcoholic Sparkling Chardonnay: Fruity and refreshingly citric aromas.
Surely’s NA Sparkling Brut: Pleasant, but the others offer more complexity.
- Sovi Sparkling White: Unpleasant stale aroma, lacking in flavor.
The Best Dealcoholized Rosé
Noughty’s Sparkling Rosé comes closest to resembling an authentic rosé. Made with tempranillo grapes, it’s fruity without being overbearing.
Other dealcoholized rosés to consider:
Giesen’s Sparkling Rosé: Crisp, reminiscent of a classic bubbly.
- Joyus Still Rosé: Pleasant, but not overly exciting.
The Best Dealcoholized Sparkling Rosé
Noughty’s Sparkling Rosé stands out for its close resemblance to a standard rosé. Made from tempranillo grapes, it’s fruity without an overwhelming sweetness. However, Joyus’ Sparkling Rosé also offers a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. For a drier option, Prima Pavé’s Rosé Brut stands out with its pinot grigio base. Sovi’s Sparkling Rosé in a can has a complex, fruity flavor profile with watermelon notes.
Other dealcoholized sparkling rosés include:
Prima Pavé Rosé Dolce: Tasty, but very sweet—a dessert wine with creamy vanilla notes.
- French Bloom Le Rosé: Peach notes, pleasant but doesn’t translate well to the beverage.
The Non-Alcoholic Wine Landscape Is Booming
With so many excellent non-alcoholic wine options available, there’s really no excuse to feel excluded from enjoying a glass of "wine" with friends and family. Whether you want to enjoy a complex, fermented alternative or a sophisticated dealcoholized wine, there’s something out there for every palate. So next time you’re looking for a refreshing drink, explore the world of non-alcoholic wines and discover a whole new way to experience the joy of wine.