Wine Without the Hangover: Our Top Picks for Delicious Non-Alcoholic Wine Options

It’s probably not all that uncommon an experience to hear a friend say, “I’d like an N/A cocktail, please,” while out to dinner these days. Not drinking alcohol is more common among Millennials and Gen Zers than previous generations, according to Gallup – and luckily for those among us who either choose not to drink at all or are abstaining temporarily, there are tons of non-alcoholic options out there that make not drinking alcohol far from boring.

From N/A beers and canned spirit-free cocktails to a wide selection of non-alcoholic wines, we’re truly living in the golden age of non-alcoholic beverages. We rounded up some of the best of the best non-alcoholic wines out there to help guide you, no matter why you’re choosing to buy.

What Is Non Alcoholic Wine?

It looks like wine, it (sort of) tastes like wine – but it’s free of alcohol! Surprisingly, though, there’s actually more to it than that. Non-alcoholic wine comes in a few different forms, and knowing the difference between them can help you navigate the N/A wine aisle. Here’s what you need to know:

Alcohol-Removed Wine

You likely already somewhat understand what alcohol-removed wine is: it’s wine that’s had the alcohol removed from it. According to The New York Times, alcohol-removed wine first begins as regular wine. Then, it’s processed to either entirely eliminate the alcohol content, or reduce it to below 0.5% ABV. The resulting N/A wine retains a lot of the flavor profiles you’d expect from the regular alcoholic version, just sans the booze.

Proxy Wine

The other kind of non-alcoholic wine is proxy wine, which really isn’t wine at all, at least, not the way most people would think of it. These wine alternatives are crafted without alcohol, so makers use tinctures, herbs, teas, tonics, spices, and the like to add depth of flavor and complexity to the juice base to make them taste and feel more like a glass of wine to those drinking it. 

Because they’re not made as traditional wines, they’re often not classified like those wines either, meaning you generally won’t find wine alternatives labeled as reds, whites, rosés, or sparklings. Instead, these beverages are usually labeled with flavor profiles that’ll help those browsing have a better idea of what it’ll taste like when they pour themselves a glass.

Things To Consider When Buying Non Alcoholic Wine

Now that you know a bit more about what you might find when shopping for non-alcoholic wines, it’s time to break down some of what you’ll want to consider when trying to select the right one for you. Whether it’s occasion-based, flavor-based, or serving and packaging-based, here’s some of what you’ll want to think about when wandering the store.

Flavor Profile

If you’re looking for an alcohol-removed wine and you’ve tasted alcoholic wine before, a good way to go about selecting a non-alcoholic wine that you might like is to think about the kinds of wines you like or the regions that produce the kinds of wines you like. Then, apply that knowledge to the N/A section of the aisle and pick one that’s similar to the kinds of alcohol-containing wines you like.

If it’s a proxy wine or wine alternative in which you’re more interested, thinking about the kinds of flavors you enjoy drinking can help guide you. Citrus, spice, berry fruits, and more are all keys you can look for to help you find something you’ll enjoy.

As always, consulting an expert at a wine shop (or an N/A-specific bottle shop) can help lead you in the right direction as well. They’re experts for a reason!

Carbonation

Special occasions scream “bubbles!” But if you’re not a fan of carbonation, you’ll want to avoid sparkling alcohol-removed wines. That being said, these kinds of non-alcoholic wines can be really approachable places to start exploring N/A wine if you like sparkling alcohol-containing wines. 

Packaging

Non-alcoholic wines come in both bottles and cans. Cans are better for taking on the go or for just a single serving, while bottles can be festive to give as a gift and might be easier when you’re pouring for a group. Ultimately, though, the choice between can or bottle really just comes down to personal preference.

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