Here in the USA, we just love an alcoholic beverage. Whether it’s swigging a cold beer on a hot day, mulling over a glass of straight bourbon, or sipping a colorful cocktail, we sure do have a drink for every occasion.
If this is news to you, there is plenty of proof out there that the American people enjoy their alcohol.
According to Statista, the US imported over 700 million liters of wine in 2020 alone. That’s not even counting all the delicious American-grown wine varieties that are sold right here in the United States from places like California.
The American wine industry is rapidly expanding, but don’t worry, the demand of US consumers is more than up to the challenge.
Wine is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world, and it’s no different here. A glass of chardonnay with lunch at a restaurant, Champagne on New Year's Eve, or a glass of red with a family meal. There aren’t many occasions where wine is an inappropriate accompanying drink.
If you had a guest over for dinner that you didn’t know very well, what would you get them to drink? Of course, wine! Because it’s so widely liked, and yet the units and the calories can add up over time.
If you love the taste of the grape-based drink and the feel of a long-stemmed glass in your hand but want to drink less alcohol, why not try some great-tasting non-alcoholic wines instead? A change is as good as a rest, so we’re told.
There are many reasons why people might wish to abstain from drinking wine and even more reasons why people might buy it.
Couples who are trying to conceive are encouraged to abstain from alcohol to improve their chances and to decrease any unintentional risk to the baby before they can get a positive line on a pregnancy test and know for sure.
Designated drivers may want to completely abstain from alcohol on a night out on the town or at a party. That’s rather the point.
Also, some people with substance abuse issues will, of course, abstain where possible. Alcoholic wine also contains a lot of calories, so people who wish to slim down may want a lower-calorie substitute they can sip.
In many of these situations, you wouldn’t necessarily want everyone present in a social situation to know the reason why you aren’t drinking.
So, what do you do? Well, if you’re happy to sip sparkling water from a wine glass, then good luck to you, but for a secretly teetotal beverage, non-alcoholic wine is a good cover.
Even if you’re shouting that you’re not drinking from the rooftops, that’s fine too. You can still enjoy wine without the alcohol or the calories.
We’ve put together a list of ten great choices of non-alcoholic wines to make your evenings a little healthier and your Sunday mornings hurt your head a lot less.
OUR TOP PICK
Who doesn’t love a full-bodied red wine (see also 'Red Wine: The Range Of Sweet And Dry Options')? This wine might be less than 0.5%, but it has all the silky finish of a high-quality cabernet sauvignon.
Unlike some supermarket brand non-alcoholic wines, this delivers the lush, mouth-coating texture of actual red wine and doesn’t taste like sweetened, diluted juice.
- Bottled in: Napa Valley, USA
- Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV
- Tasting notes: Rich cherry and blackcurrant notes.
- Goes well with: Beef, Lamb, game, hard cheese.
EDITORS CHOICE
Who says you need an occasion to pop a bottle of bubbly? This sparkling wine is a zesty alternative to boozy brunches.
It’ll make fabulous mimosas for a noon treat, or you can just pop the cork and drink it chilled from a tall, long-stemmed glass at any time of day or night.
Cordorniu is a leading producer of Spanish cava, so this should be a deliciously dry, delightful tipple without being too sweet. Brut means dry, so we’re hoping this won’t be tasting like Kool-Aid (as tasty as that is).
- Bottled in: Penedès, Spain
- Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV
- Tasting notes: Zesty lemon and sweet honey notes.
- Goes well with: Salads, seafood, or canapés.
BEST VALUE
What could be better than a chilled alcohol-free bottle of bubbly to make a celebration out of anything at all? We’ll tell you what: a rosé version. That’s what! Why does pink make everything more special?
We have no idea, but since variety is said to be the spice of life, let’s spice things up in a grown-up way, with some sparkling rosé.
With fruity flavors, this should appeal to most wine drinkers’ palettes, being neither too sweet nor too dry.
- Bottled in: Penedès, Spain
- Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV
- Tasting notes: Strawberries and red fruits.
- Goes well with: Appetizers, fish, seafood, or cured meats.
RUNNER UP
If you enjoy a classic Riesling as a sweet alternative to Californian chardonnay, then this one should hit the spot without the hangover.
There are few wines that are quite as flavorful as a European Riesling. Both acidic and medium sweet, they have a distinctive taste.
These make great holiday gifts because a lot of Christmas traditions and festivities come from Northern Europe. Get into the spirit (without any spirits) with a traditional German Riesling.
- Bottled in: Mosel, Germany
- Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV
- Tasting notes: Strong lemon and citrus notes.
- Goes well with: Pork, shellfish, cured meats, and spicy dishes.
RUNNER UP
This is an excellent tasting wine (we speak from experience) which makes any social gathering more enjoyable with the added bonus that everyone remembers it perfectly well the next day.
For memories worth cherishing, Freixenet gives a convincing performance as an alcoholic Spanish cava with all the bubbles and none of the regrets. With delicate notes of tropical fruit, it would make a fruity mocktail 100% better instantly.
If you ever feel tempted to reach for the booze, keep one of these in your refrigerator, and the taste should trick your mind into thinking you’ve indulged in the real thing. We won’t tell if you won’t.
- Bottled in: Penedès, Spain
- Alcohol content: 0% ABV
- Tasting notes: Exotic fruits and refreshing citrus.
- Goes well with: apéritifs, canapés, chicken or fish
RUNNER UP
If you usually go for Merlot, you won’t be disappointed with this alcohol-free version.
It’s extremely reasonably priced with a full-bodied fruity taste. Dark fruit essences typify this velvety smooth red, and it’s an absolutely perfect accompaniment for dinner parties.
It’s a home-grown Californian red too, so if you care about your wine’s carbon footprint, you’ll like that it isn’t imported.
It’s been said to be a little too sweet for some people’s tastes, though, so if you really like a heavy red without the sweetness, then this one probably isn’t for you.
- Bottled in: California, USA
- Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV
- Tasting notes: Plum, and cherry flavors.
- Goes well with: Beef, pork, or veal.
RUNNER UP
If you like a sweet, fruity rosé wine, then this will be just the tipple for you. It’s described as a medium rosé with notes of red currants, raspberries, and citrus fruits. It shouldn’t be too sweet so as to not taste like wine, but it’s not dry either.
If you typically like white zinfandel, then you’ll like this one. Sweet wines usually have even more calories than dry ones, but alcohol-free wines have around half the calories of their alcoholic counterparts.
If you’re looking to keep the feeling of enjoying wine, without consuming the calories, then this will suit your needs.
A large glass of this is only 60 calories, compared to 110 calories for a similar full alcohol version. Reviews claim that it is most drinkable, being neither too sweet nor too dry.
- Bottled in: France (south)
- Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV
- Tasting notes: cassis, strawberry and melon.
- Goes well with: Pork, Barbecue dishes, or as an apéritif.
RUNNER UP
For those of you who aren’t a fan of the dryness of many sparkling wines, this might be the one for you.
Plenty of people will drink Champagne at a wedding or celebratory occasion, but don’t actually enjoy the dry, acidic flavor.
If that’s you, then 1: stop wasting perfectly good Champagne because you’re expected to drink it, and 2: try this as a substitute. It’s an off-dry sparkling white wine with medium sweet notes of apple and pear. It’s not sparkling cider, though.
The Spanish know a thing or two about sparkling wines and while most of their table wines are medium-bodied, their Brut cava is world-famous.
This is probably more like the medium Spanish wines you actually get in Spain, but with bubbles. It’s not super sweet, but it’s a very pleasant alternative if cava or Champagne is usually too dry for your palette.
It’s made from Chardonnay grapes, so if you like a chilled glass of Chardonnay, this will be a great selection for you.
- Bottled in: Spain
- Alcohol content: 0% ABV
- Tasting notes: Pear and Apple.
- Goes well with: Salads, chicken, or on its own.
RUNNER UP
Speaking of a tasty glass of Chardonnay, can we get just a straight Napa Chardonnay without the next-day regrets. Yes, you can.
Luminara has made a non-alcoholic version of their Napa Valley Chardonnay for your sipping pleasure. It’s not the most budget-friendly bottle on our list, but it’s not extortionate either.
As will alcoholic wine, you get what you pay for in terms of quality. This medium-bodied white has fruity aromas and notes of tropical fruit, lemon cream, and a slight apple aftertaste.
For a summer barbecue accompaniment, or as a companion to sit on your veranda with to watch the sunset, this is the perfect refreshing beverage.
You really can have your cake and eat it too, with a convincing Chardonnay wine without the ABV.
- Bottled in: Napa Valley, USA
- Alcohol content: 0% ABV
- Tasting notes: Apple, tropical fruits, and lemon.
- Goes well with: Cheese, chicken, or seafood.
RUNNER UP
If you’ve been put off de-alcoholized wines before because you’re usually a dry white drinker, and you can’t stand the sweetness of many non-alcoholic wines, then don’t you worry.
New Zealand is a leading exporter of crisp, dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc.
The acidic bite and citrus finish are signature stamps that mark a good Marlborough white. Now we have a genuine Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that has less than 0% alcohol. Life is good. It’s not even that expensive, which is even better news.
The flavor profile for this baby is described as having citrus flavors followed by distinct blackcurrant and passion fruit notes.
It’s crisp, dry, and just a little bit juicy, so it’s perfect to accompany seafood, poultry, or fresh, vibrant salads.
Highly rated by reviews, we’ve actually found a non-sparkling, easy-drinking, genuinely dry, non-alcoholized white wine. It’s a tall order, and New Zealand has delivered. Hallelujah and well done to them!
- Bottled in: Marlborough, New Zealand
- Alcohol content: 0% ABV
- Tasting notes: Citrus, blackcurrant, and passion fruit.
- Goes well with: Seafood, salads, and vegetarian dishes.
Best Non-Alcoholic Wines Buying Guide
What Is Alcohol-Free Wine?
Non-alcoholic wine, alcohol-free wine, and dealcoholized wine all mean the same thing. It means that the alcohol has been removed from normal wine, which is why it’s not the same thing as grape juice.
This does not mean, however, that there is absolutely no alcohol in it. Alcohol-free wine may contain very low amounts of alcohol, which is why is it not recommended for pregnant women to consume.
While it’s true that non-alcoholic wine contains very little actual alcohol, there is no set safe limit for an expectant mother to have of alcohol, because any studies on this would be considered to be unethical.
If a woman decides to drink during pregnancy, then that is absolutely none of our business, but we wish to stress that alcohol-free or non-alcoholic wine does contain some alcohol, despite what the name may suggest, so there isn’t any confusion.
Alcohol-free essentially means that it contains 0.5% ABV or less. Low-alcohol wine also exists and contains less than the usual 8-12% ABV of most wines.
Are Non-Alcoholic Wines Cheaper Than Normal Wine?
Some argue that because de-alcoholized wines contain little or no alcohol, they should be cheaper to buy. This is not always the case, though.
Why is this? Although it’s true that non-alcoholic wine won’t be taxed to the same extent as full-strength wine, there are other factors to consider.
In terms of how it’s made, there are very few differences. Wine is made from fermented grape juice and so is non-alcoholic wine.
It is made by taking out the existing alcohol inside the finished product of alcoholic wine. Therefore, the manufacturers are adding an extra step to the wine-making process to produce alcohol-free wine.
There is then another extra step to complete. There are often many other ingredients added to the wine to make it taste more like the original thing.
In some cases, this might be sugar, or they might use other flavors to improve the taste. These additives cost the manufacturer extra money, which is then passed on to the consumer.
When all is said and done, there may not be a big price difference between a high-quality alcohol-free wine and a premium wine with alcohol.
In some countries, the tax on low alcohol and no-alcohol beverages is waived considerably, because it encourages people to drink less alcohol. This is seen to be a good thing to incentivize citizens to be healthier.
What Are The Benefits Of Switching To Non-Alcoholic Wine?
If you are a wine drinker, then you’ll know how a warming glass of red or a cool, crisp white in the evenings can help you relax and unwind.
Then again, wine contains more alcohol per ml than other popular alcoholic drinks such as beer. Drinking to excess has been linked with many health conditions and increases the risk of some cancers developing.
It’s recommended that to lead a healthy lifestyle, you should have several alcohol-free days per week. But if you are a habitual wine drinker, this can feel like deprivation.
Swapping your usual drink for a non-alcoholic version that you enjoy for two or three days a week will reduce the risk of many health conditions in the future and still give you the feeling that you are treating yourself.
Non-alcoholic wine also contains far fewer calories than standard wines.
As a rule of thumb, alcohol-free wines should contain at least half the calories as normal wine so if you are trying to lose weight and be healthier, alcohol-free wine can make a big difference to your waistline if you’re replacing your usual Chardonnay with it.
Alcohol has the second most calories per ounce of all nutritional groups. The only thing higher in calories than alcohol is fat, so there’s no point cutting down on carbs and fat if you’re still glugging down your favorite alcoholic drinks without a second thought.
I want to share with you all of my favorites, as well as share advice on picking certain alcohols and flavors.
I hope you enjoy my articles as much as I enjoyed researching them!
- Why Are Some Alcohols Referred To As Spirits? - February 11, 2023
- The Healthy Benefits Of Drinking Cannonau Wine - January 31, 2023
- All Major Differences Between Prosecco And Moscato (And Which You Should Choose) - January 7, 2023
