New Year’s Eve has come and gone, and for many resolutions, the following month is alcohol-free month. When it comes to Dry January, some are stricter than others. While some participants abstain from alcohol altogether, others opt for low-ABV options or only indulge on weekends.
Regardless of your approach, it’s likely that many will embrace some sort of moderate sip. While the non-alcoholic beer and spirits categories have produced solid options for years, the N/A wine section is relatively new. Many of the options on the market today are made using innovative techniques and creative ingredients, while others are more akin to traditional wines, although we’ve found that when it comes to ingredients, less is more.
Whether you’re looking for a hearty red to warm you up this winter or a ripe rosé to satisfy your summer cravings, there’s a non-alcoholic wine that’s just right for you. Read on for the seven best non-alcoholic wines we tasted this year.
NOT3
This wine alternative from aesthetically driven Australian brand NON boasts toasted cinnamon and sweet yuzu notes and a deep core of energetic fruit. It’s made with verjuice – the juice of unripe grapes – which adds a tart, tangy undertone balanced by a hint of sea salt. The resulting drink shows a near-perfect balance of sweetness, saltiness, and acidity.
Price: $29
Sovi Wine Co Reserve Red
Unlike many of its competitors on the market, Sovi Wine Co.’s Reserve Red is made from just two ingredients: Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. The wine is made using traditional methods, after which the alcohol is removed, leaving aromas of juicy cherries and plums. Tannin structure is preserved here, and that dry mouthfeel helps balance the punch of those juicy fruits.
Price: $38
Jøyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé
Seattle-based company Jøyus was founded with a mission to help people on their sober journey. For those on the wagon craving the celebratory nature of sparkling wine (and tired of toasting with sparkling apple juice), this sparkling rosé is a great alternative. Notes of strawberries and cream dominate the palate, which delivers a convincingly frothy mousse and a satisfying mouthfeel. The brand’s classic sparkling wine also impressed our tasting panel with light, acidic apple and pear aromas.
Price: $25
Ravento’s Codorniu Roundel Zero
This cava style sparkler offers a bouquet of ripe flowers on the nose. On the palate, lavender and magnolia aromas merge into underripe apple and pear notes. While many N/A wines are cloyingly sweet, this one strikes a nice balance with tart malic acid and a subtle bubble structure.
Price: $11
Waterbrook Clean Cabernet Sauvignon
The tannic, bold Cabernet Sauvignon is not an easy wine to emulate without liquor, which is why this offering from Waterbrook so impressed our tasting team. It’s made from only grape concentrate and added sulphites, with a tight tannin structure that breaks through the punchy sweetness of dealcoholized grape juice. This wine really gives the impression that you are drinking traditional full alcohol wine.
Price: $14
Alcohol-free Lautus Sauvignon Blanc
Launched in 2017, this South African brand claims to be the first-ever non-alcoholic wine on the market. Whether it is the originator of the style or not, it is certainly one of the most successful in terms of taste. Mimicking the capiscum flavors of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, this non-alcoholic alternative is grassy and bright. Lautus’ rosé alternative – with notes of honeysuckle, orange blossom and strawberry – is also an honorable mention.
Price: $20
Wölffer Weingut Weingut Spring in the bottle
Hailing from Long Island, NY, Spring in a Bottle from the Wölffer Estate is an N/A alternative to the winery’s popular rosé Summer in a Bottle. It is a balanced blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Saint Laurent and Dornfelder grapes with ripe strawberry, peach and lemon aromas. Chill this well and slurp it up with your favorite spring salad.
Price: $20