Fitness
These Fine Nonalcoholic Wines Top Our Sip List
Published
3 years agoon
By
Terry Power
So you want wine without the regrets? Whether you’re challenging yourself to give up booze for Dry January or looking to drink less—if at all—year-round, you’ll appreciate these top nonalcoholic wines every bit as much in the moment as the morning after. From monthly subscription clubs to champagne stand-ins, we’ve got something for everyone. All the below wines have 0.5% ABV (about the same as orange juice) or less—and hold a candle to the genuine article.
These Fine Nonalcoholic Wines Top Our Sip List
1. Acid League Wine Proxies
Looking for regular deliveries of stellar nonalcoholic wine? Here’s your match made in 0.5% ABV-or-less paradise. Each month, you’ll get three NA wines in red, white, and rosé varietals, created from blends of juices, teas, spices, bitters, and other ingredients. Just like kombucha, foods containing vanilla extract (or even just overripe bananas) have trace levels alcohol in their composition, but generally fall well below 0.5% alcohol by volume—the threshold to be classified as nonalcoholic according to the FDA. These nuanced, well-balanced beverages have fast risen as go-to nonalcoholic wine alternatives on upscale wine lists around North America, including Sean Brock’s new Nashville restaurant Audrey, as well as The French Laundry, Gramercy Tavern, and others.
[from $60; acidleague.com]
2. YOURS Non-Alcoholic Wine California Red Blend
Launched by a husband-and-wife duo who couldn’t find a worthy NA red that reminded them of their drinking days, YOURS debuted with this full-bodied red blend made from California grapes. Brimming with notes of chocolate, ripe black currant, blackberry, cedar, oak, and vanilla, you won’t find any of that icky sweetness here standard in many NA wines. In fact, if this red blend were served in a dimly lit restaurant, we may very well end the night slurring our words a bit. It’s that convincing.
[$20; sipyours.com]
3. Starla Wines The Collection (Red Blend, Sauvignon Blanc & Sparkling Rosé)
Unlike many brands on the market, Starla uses botanicals (instead of sugar) to add aromas back into its wine. The standout in this three bottle collection is the sauvignon blanc—a crisp palate-awakener with waves of wild honeysuckle, rosemary, pear, and lemon balm that’s finished off with a white peach blossom parfum. This and the French Colombard blend both pair great with lentils, pork, roasted veggies, and it’s-been-a-day.
[$84; starlawines.com]
4. Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand is renowned for its sauv blancs. This 0% instant palate-pleaser made with grapes grown and selected from celebrated wine regions Marlborough and Waipara offers hints of lime-redcurrant-lemon and shortbread. You’ll enjoy the crisp and dry brightness of an impeccably constructed wine that uses spinning cone technology to remove the aroma and alcohol before recombining the aroma for the juicy wine’s hallmark nose.
[$15; giesenwines.com]
5. DRY Soda Co, Botanical Bubbly Reserve
For bubbly-worthy celebrations, try this NA beverage that’s perhaps a bit more interesting and sophisticated than de facto sparkling apple cider. Available in Spiced Pear and Lavender 75 flavors, we particularly love the latter of the duo with its lemon, rosemary, oak, and lavender notes.
[$46 for four bottles; amazon.com]
6. Semblance Zero-Alcohol Sparkling Chardonnay
Chardonnay fans, rejoice. This delectable zero-alcohol sparkling Chardonnay makes the most of oceanfront California terroir in a winemaking process sans booze. Plus, it comes thoughtfully packaged in a gift-worthy bottle that’s meant to offer a hat tip to the roaring ‘20s. Submitted to something called “whole cluster pressing” to create a depth of flavor, the grapes are also fermented in stainless steel tanks. Thanks to the alcohol’s removal via spinning cone technology, you get a brut bubbly profile replete with floral and tropical fruit hints—hangover not included.
[$30; semblance.com]
7. Surely Non-Alcoholic Cabernet Sauvignon
Booze-free cab sauv has clearly come a long (long) way with this stellar sipper that uses Sonoma Valley, CA grapes and an innovative technology called spinning cone column which removes the alcohol without compromising taste. You’ll be going through this one fast, so order two bottles.
[$30; hisurely.com]
8. Barton & Guestier Alcohol Removed Sparkling Wine
Bottoms up for this non-alcoholic wine from a French company founded in 1725. Crafted with a process known as reverse osmosis to eliminate the alcohol from the final product, the aroma compounds are filtered out and preserved before the booze itself is removed through distillation. Muscat grapes, how we dig thee. Bonus: This wine is vegan-friendly.
[$11; totalwine.com]
9. SomethingElse Kally
This winning, new nonalcoholic drink is produced with chardonnay grapes and local ingredients sourced in Portola Valley, CA. Boasting a complexity and well-balanced profile reminiscent of a wine and cocktail hybrid, each of the four flavors (Jasmine Spice, Orchard Sage, Vanilla Smoke, and Berry Fennel) is a symposium of organic teas, fruits, herbs, and spices. This vegan-friendly, 0% ABV beverage may become your happy hour go-to. Our favorite of the bunch is Berry Fennel. Deep red in color with cherries, tea, fennel, and strawberries, it offers a light, airy sip with enough body to satisfy chardonnay zealots.
[$30; drinkkally.com]
10. Veuve du Vernay Zero
The top French sparkling wine brand for under $20 in the U.S. released this stellar, alcohol-free, vegan-friendly bubbly last year to much acclaim. It’s produced with 100% Muscat grapes and no added sugars, and we love the light floral aromas and complexity of this 0% alcohol champagne substitute. Zero-proof mimosas anyone?
[$11; shopwinedirect.com]
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