No wine Alcohol? What’s the point?! I get it. As a bartender and someone who loves to have a drink, I used to preach the same thing. But offering more choice means a much more inclusive experience for all customers, wherever they are. Just a few years ago, if you wanted a mocktail, you probably got a glass of soda water with syrup. Now, more people can have a sociable experience, whatever and wherever they choose.
There are two types of non-alcoholic wine: dealcoholized wine and wine substitute. Wine dealcoholization is a two-step process in which the alcohol is removed from the wine in a vacuum still, leaving behind a thin film containing volatile aromatic substances. This is called the essence, and it preserves the wine’s character. However, with no ethanol remaining, the wine often tastes very sour, so juice concentrates are often added to make it more drinkable.
Wine substitutes, on the other hand, don’t contain alcohol. They usually have a base liquid, such as tea, vinegar or verjuice. From there, fruits, herbs, plants and spices make the drink. Personally, I prefer wine substitutes. They stand on their own and don’t try to recreate an experience. They are sipped from a wine glass, not like juice.
For this guide, we limited ourselves to direct-to-consumer non-alcoholic wines available in the U.S. We did not include other beverages that claim to be aperitifs. We did not include relaxing beverages that may contain functional aspects such as adaptogens, but which bear no resemblance to wine at all. We also took into account calories, sugar content, similarity to alcoholic wines, complexity, overall experience, and of course, taste.
Don’t like wine? Check out our other drinks-related guides, including the best instant coffee, best electric kettles and best espresso machines.
table of contents
- Best Red Wine Substitute: Muri Fade to Black
- Best White Wine Substitute: Proxy Gold Crash
- Best Rosé Alternatives: Cali Rose Sparkler
- Best non-alcoholic red wine: Sovi Reserve Red
- Best non-alcoholic sparkling red wine: Gruvi Sangria
- Best non-alcoholic white wine: Studio Nur Gruner Weiss
- Best non-alcoholic sparkling white wine: Prima Pavé Blanc de Blancs
- The best non-alcoholic rosé: Naughty Rose
- The best non-alcoholic sparkling rosé: Naughty Sparkling Rosé
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Best Red Wine Substitute
Looking for a red wine alternative, I was looking for something that could be paired with food or drunk on its own, that respected the ritual of wine drinking, and had an element of surprise. Muri fits the bill perfectly. Muri is a Copenhagen-based company that celebrates the Danish gastronomic tradition, and its fermented wine alternatives are works of art. Not surprisingly, founder Murray Patterson has previously worked in Copenhagen Empirical Spiritproduces an equally innovative drink: Fade to Black, made with black and red currants, kefir and pine needles.s It’s fermented and fizzy, but it’s so much more delicious than kombucha: fruity, rich, and earthy.
If you like lighter drinks, Yamile ($37) It is a warm wine with a smoky aftertaste. Its ingredients, such as gooseberry juice, smoked rutabaga and pink peppercorn, make it a versatile wine. It is a great alternative to dessert wines. Seraphim Cocoa Blend ($35) Chocolate-coated bitter raspberries, Cassia Blend ($35) Scented with dark berries and cinnamon, founder Stephanie Shaich Bricken wants consumers to feel like they’re getting the alcohol fix, so Seraphim is infused with reishi mushrooms and infused with amethyst crystals. At the very least, it’s a conversation starter.
The best white wine alternative
I wanted a white wine alternative that was refreshing and easy to drink on a sunny day, unlike non-alcoholic wines. Curry’s Orchard Sage ($38) Both were great flavor combinations, but the fizz in Gold Crush took it even further. Gold Crush is incredibly complex, with notes of pear and fennel. Proxies founder Charlie Friedman’s wine alternatives are designed to be paired with food, and it really shows. Curry’s Orchard Sage is exactly what it sounds like, with a hint of sage.
Others I have tested include: Three Spirits Sharp ($27)It’s light and refreshing with a refreshing hint of ginger and a slightly natural flavour that takes a little getting used to. Muri Koji Rice Series 1 ($40) It’s creamy and warm with notes of sweet rice wine and lavender. TÖST (3-pack for $27) It has a pleasant tea base but lacks complexity – I didn’t particularly like it. Jukes 1 ($60)It was quite sour, which was disappointing, especially considering how much I love Jukes red wine.
The best rosé alternative
Kally is a leading wine alternative, served in many Michelin-starred restaurants across the country. The base of each bottle is a biodynamic organic verjuice made by co-founders Katie and Scott Mitic from grapes harvested in California’s Alexander Valley. Like any alcoholic wine, each bottle is subtly different. Kally’s Rosé Sparkler is similar to an alcoholic sparkling rosé. I like that it’s dry, as they often have too much sugar to make up for the lack of alcohol. It’s also pleasantly effervescent, with hints of strawberry and, of course, Kally’s signature verjuice base (in this case, Chardonnay verjuice).
Three Spirit Sparks ($27)The main essence of is an earthy aroma, with a peppery, spicy aftertaste that can be felt at the back of the tongue. It contains adaptogens such as L-theanine, which Three Spirit says has mood-elevating effects, making it a good choice if you’re looking for a functional wine alternative. TÖST Rosé ($92) It is based on white tea, very Plenty of tea – certainly tasty and comforting, but a bit basic. Groovy Bubbly Rose ($76.50/24 pack)is based on concentrated grape juice and is fruity yet very sweet, so is probably best enjoyed during the day when you’re craving something sweet.
Best non-alcoholic red wine
The best dealcoholized red wines come from Sovi. Sommelier Julia Littauer and her husband Alexander have dedicated their careers to wine, co-founding Sovi after attending Cornell Business School. Unlike many other North American wines, Sovi’s grapes, grown near Napa, California, are selected for dealcoholization. This is a big difference, because Sovi’s two red wines are arguably the best of the bunch.
I like the Reserve Red best because it has a long finish. Sovis Red Blend ($32)This is another great option. The Reserve Red is aged in oak barrels for a long time. I really like it. Luminara Red Blend ($19)It is similar to a high alcohol red wine, mainly due to its tannins. Giessen’s New Zealand Premium Red ($25) It’s similar to an alcoholic red wine, but it definitely lacks body. Joyous Cabernet Sauvignon ($29) It is definitely the sweetest in its category, probably due to the addition of grape juice concentrate. What I didn’t like was Naughty Rouge ($25)It’s smooth but lacks depth of flavor. It uses nothing but alcohol-free Syrah wine. I appreciate the commitment to purity, but at the end of the day, the product has to taste good.
Best non-alcoholic sparkling red wine
Sparkling reds are not the most common type of wine in general. But for alcohol-free wines, we think adding bubbles is a great way to add texture and zest that can often be lost in the alcohol-free process. Grüvi’s canned sangria is unlike any other drink in this guide. It’s poured directly from a pitcher, with ice and fresh fruit floating on top. It’s totally fine without the alcohol. It’s sweet, sure, but that’s what sangria is all about. Grüvi co-founders Niki and Anika Sawni package most of their NA wines and beers in cans, which is an increasingly popular way to drink wine.
Studio Null Limited Edition Prickly Red ($32) It felt most similar to an alcoholic wine. Shurely Bubbly Red ($25) It’s also quite tasty, and the bubbles add a nice refreshing kick, but the other two in this category feel more developed.
Best non-alcoholic white wine
With Studio Nuru’s Gruner Weiss Naughty’s Brand ($25) Very similar. Grüner Weiss is a recent addition to Studio Nul’s catalog, with a slightly stronger citrus flavor similar to an alcoholic white wine, and the four hours of skin contact give the wine a unique character. Studio Nul is one of North America’s leading brands. Co-founders Katherine Diao and Dorothy Munholland source their Grüner Weiss grapes from southern Austria.
I’m not a fan of Chardonnay personally. Oceano Non-alcoholic Chardonnay ($45) A great warm bodied option. I don’t like the dealcoholized white wines from Giessen. Riesling ($30) and Pinot Grigio ($16)Riesling tastes like a dessert wine because of its extreme sweetness, while Pinot Grigio lacks any complexity whatsoever.
Best non-alcoholic sparkling white wine
Prima Pave’s Blanc de Blancs is the driest of the wines I tried. This sparkling white has no added sugar or fruit juice for a light, complex flavor and mouthfeel, which is standard for Prima Pave’s collection of premium sparkling wines from Northern Italy. Founders Dejú and Marco Marano have created a line of NA sparkling wines that are sophisticated in taste and appearance, making them the perfect alternative to Champagne for celebratory occasions.
Giessen Sparkling Brut ($23), Naughty’s Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Chardonnay ($22)and Shurely’s NA Sparkling Brut ($25) They all taste very similar. Giesen is the most refreshing due to the amount of bubbles. It definitely has a fruity, refreshing citrus aroma. Sovis Sparkling White ($30)Unfortunately, it smells unpleasant, stale and tastes terrible.
The best non-alcoholic rosé
The sparkling rosé category is fuller, as the carbonation adds some much-needed complexity, and Noughty is the best of the bunch, being slightly sweeter and more festive than the rest. Giessens ($22) and Joyous ($25) Still, the rosé wines are no less appealing. Naughty’s rosé wines are sweeter, but they’re the only one of the three that doesn’t have any added grape juice or grape juice concentrate. One of the best-known brands in the industry, Naughty was founded by Amanda Thomson and prides itself on adding little to no sweeteners to its wines, many of which are sourced in South Africa.
The best non-alcoholic sparkling rosé
Naughty’s sparkling rosé is most similar to a standard rosé. It’s made from Tempranillo grapes and is not too sweet and fruity. However, Joyous Sparkling Rosé ($27) The balance of sweetness and sourness is good, and it is slightly on the sweet side. If you prefer a dry taste, Prima Pavé Rosé Brut ($25)Based on Pinot Grigio, this wine has a refreshing, natural taste, as if almost no additives were added after the alcohol was removed. Sovis Sparkling Rosé ($30/4 pack)Pinot Noir in a can. Pinot Noir packs the punch and has the most complex flavor with notes of watermelon. It has the best balance of sweet and spicy, making it a whole-mouth feast. It also has a slightly fruity aftertaste.
Prima Pave Rosé Dolce ($25) It’s delicious but very sweet – it tastes like a dessert wine with creamy vanilla notes. French Bloom Le Rose It has a peach scent, which is nice, but I don’t think it translates very well to the drink, and at $44 it’s quite pricey compared to the others in this guide.
