The 14 Best Non-Alcoholic Wines, According to Finicky Reviewers
Non-alcoholic wines are really maturing, according to Daniel Stiller, proprietor of Better Rhodes, an online retailer that specializes in alcohol-free beverages. Whether the occasion is Dry January or a desire to explore an alcohol-free evening the other 11 months of the year, people are buying wine thatās alcohol-free. But whoās the new demographic embracing this formerly niche product? āAbout 70 percent of our customers are millennial women,ā Stiller says. āWe do not see this as an anti-alcohol movement but rather a pro-health, wellness and mindfulness movement.ā
Why Are Alcohol-Free Wines Having a Moment?
Think of it this way: Years ago, it wasnāt a thing to consider meat-free options for your dinner party guests. And today, hosts plan vegetarian options without a second thought. Similarly, today the inclusive wine get-together includes alcohol-free options that donāt scream āNo Booze Up In Here,ā but are instead carefully crafted wines that have sophisticated flavor profiles that donāt include alcohol. Many of these bottles come from some of the worldās top vintners, for example Luminariaās chardonnays and red blends are made from fruit grown at Trinchero Family Estates in Napa, a vineyard that produces Sutter Home along with dozens of other top traditional wine brands.
We asked Stiller for his top-selling wines, along with user reviews, to add to your hosting, happy hour or just-another-Wednesday-dinner experience; we've shared selects here, clustered in Sparkling, White, RosĆ© and Red groupings. Not sure which you might like to try? Opt for Better Rhodesās upscale wine assortment that includes six of their most popular bottles.
Top-Selling Sparkling Wines
1. Noughty Alcohol-Free Sparkling Chardonnay
Tomson & Scott is an English company that uses traditional winemaking techniques in stainless steel vats then de-alocholizes by vacuum distillation with aroma recovery. Finally, the bottle is lightly carbonated. āWhen I stopped drinking alcoholāI did not like the physical effectsāI thought I would not taste Champagne again,ā says one reviewer. āNoughty's alcohol-free sparkling Chardonnay is so good and so remarkable in its ability to mirror all the good tastes of bubbly without alcohol. Serving it for Christmas this year instead of Veuve Cliquot!ā
2. Noughty Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rose
Itās a dry, festive option. āI love that itās organic and vegan! Itās not too sweet and has half the sugar of regular wine,ā says one buyer.
3. Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling
This fruity yet dry wine is from respected Reisling maker Josi Leitz. The proprietary de-alcoholoization method preserves the freshness of the wine, while the cardon dioxide (aka bubbles) in the sparkling expression balances the sweetness to make it taste drier than it actually is, so you can taste a bit of lemon and spice without too much sugar. āThe perfect alcohol-free wine for drinking while pregnant,ā says one reviewer. āCrisp notes or apple, apricot and citrus zest with hints of cream and honey. Lovely amount of bubbles and fizz. Not too acidic.ā
4. Starla Sparking RosƩ
"You can barely tell the difference between this and the real deal!" says one fan of this alcohol-removed wine that has notes of strawberry blossom, citrus and lychee, as well as a sweet gardenia effervescence.
Top-Selling White Wines
5. Ein Zwei Zero Reisling
āFantastic!ā raves one fan. āIt tastes just like the real stuff (which it kinda is, minus the alcohol)! Nice bite of the tart grapes and good body. Definitely recommend this wine to anyone looking for a white that doesnāt taste like a non-alcoholic wine.ā The wineās tasting notes list lime, citrus, rhubarb and a little hint of red apple on an underlying mineral base, which we're translating to mean itās five oāclock somewhere.
6. Geisen Sauvignon Blanc
āGiesen Sauvignon Blanc was a happy surprise,ā says a reviewer who has ordered multiple times. āI liked it from first taste and have enjoyed it as a very decent substitute for the real thing. It is nice and dry and has some good depth and flavor.ā Made from New Zealand-harvested grapes, its initial lemon shortbread note is followed by passionfruit and blackcurrant, finishing dry on the palate.
7. Luminaria Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay 2018
A reviewer lauds this āoaky and deliciousā white made from Napa Valley grapes that the winemakers process using a delicate alcohol-removal process that allows them to preserve the bright acidity as well as fruitiness in the flavor profile. And ooenophiles will tell youāthe 2018 harvest yielded great fruit.
Top-Selling RosƩ Wines
8. Surely RosƩ
āA very good rosĆ©,ā says one fan, who likes it as āa great substitute without having to answer all the āwhy arenāt you drinking?ā questions.ā Made in Texas from California grapes, it yields fruit-forward notes of bright peach, passion fruit, strawberry and a very subtle note of watermelon.
9. Pierre Zero RosƩ
Suitable for both sweet and sour foods (weāre thinking grilled chicken or an Asian stir fry), this bright crisp rosĆ© has hints of rose, lemon, cinnamon and tarragon. Itās enjoyed best, fans say, when itās ice cold.
10. Le Petit Etoile Rose
This pale pink wine is made from cabernet and chardonnay grapes, which has a fruity nose (red- and blackcurrant, raspberry) and floral spicy notes that are underpinned by notes of pink grapefruit. Itās produced in France, and from the bottle to the mouthfeel āitās tres elegant,ā says one fan.
11. Rock Grace Ruby Reserve Non-Alcoholic Drink
This rosƩ calls itself a non-alcoholic drink, not a wine, because unlike many alcohol-free wines that are crafted then have the alcohol removed, this has never had any fermentation. Yet the raspberry and vanilla-forward flavors yield a drink that resembled "a wine experience," says one reviewer " It felt really elegant and I was blown away with the natural herbal ingredients combined."
Top-Selling Red Wines
12. Lussory Premium Tempranillo
āI purchased this for a family member who has an alcohol allergy but missed the taste and activity of having a nice red wine with a meal,ā says one reviewer about this red wine that comes from La Mancha, Spain. āAfter the first sip we both stared at each otherā¦youād never know it is zero percent alcohol! It has the flavor of sitting in a barrel but itās not obnoxious. The color is a beautiful deep red and it has just enough sweetness to take some of the barrel flavor edge off.ā
13. Luminaria Red Blend
Pinot and Zinfandel grapes are used in this California-grown blend. āIt tastes just like regular wine,ā enthuses one reviewer. āNo grape juice flavor, and not too sweet. I love it.ā
14. Zeero Sangiovese
An Italian red thatās blended especially for Better Rhodes by Casa Emma, this is a dry table red that also has notes of blackberry, currant and white peach. A tannic dryness is going to suit any rich Italian recipe or chocolate dessert, or just relaxing by the fire.
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