I love wine nights. But last Dry January stuck with me. I still wanted the glass, the chill, the clink. Just without the buzz. So I tried a bunch of non-alcoholic wines at home, at book club, even at my cousin’s baby shower. Some were great. Some tasted like sweet grape juice in a fancy bottle. I’ll tell you which ones stayed in my fridge.
Need a second opinion? Liquor.com’s somm-reviewed rundown of the best non-alcoholic wines is a handy cheat sheet when you’re standing in the aisle.
Want the super-short list with tasting notes and prices? I keep it updated in this roundup of the best non-alcoholic wines I actually drink.
Here’s the thing: I care about taste first. Not just the label. Not vibes. Flavor. Dry if possible, with good acid. Bubbles help a lot.
If you want to see the full spreadsheet of every bottle I've tried (including the fails), I post updates on Add This Mark.
Quick picks if you’re thirsty
- Best sparkling: Noughty Alcohol-Free Sparkling Chardonnay
- Best white: Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc
- Best red: Leitz Zero Point Five Pinot Noir
- Best rosé: Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Rosé
- Best budget: Fre Sparkling Brut
- Best cans: Sovi Sparkling Rosé
- Best party bottle: Oddbird Blanc de Blancs
You know what? Let me explain why.
Sparkling wins (because bubbles forgive a lot)
Noughty Alcohol-Free Sparkling Chardonnay
Dry. Bright. Crisp apple and a hint of toast. I poured this at my sister’s baby shower, and even the wine drinkers went back for seconds. It looks like real Champagne in the glass. Not too sweet. It also holds bubbles well if you use a stopper.
Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling
This one tastes like green apple, lime, and a little floral note. Light and fun. I bring it for taco night. The acid cuts through rich food, which I love. If you like a zesty sipper, this is your friend.
Oddbird Blanc de Blancs
Clean and classy. Pear, lemon, a touch of brioche. I save it for birthdays. It feels special without trying too hard. Pricey, but worth it if you want a “real wine” feel.
Fre Sparkling Brut
Simple and cheerful. Not complex, but not cloying if you serve it cold. Great for big groups or mimosas with OJ. My neighbor keeps it on hand for game day.
Whites that actually taste like wine
Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc
This is my everyday pick. Grapefruit, passionfruit, and herb notes, like real New Zealand Sav Blanc. Crisp and dry for NA wine. I pour it with sushi or salad. It makes weeknights feel easy.
Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling (still)
Juicy peach and lime, with a little sweetness. Not syrupy. Chill it well. I sip it on the patio when I want something bright but soft.
Rosé that’s not just pink
Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Rosé
Strawberry, rhubarb, and a snap of acid. Dry side for an NA rosé. Picnic perfect. I’ve paired it with chips and hummus. Fancy? No. Tasty? Yes.
Sovi Sparkling Rosé (cans)
Crisp and bubbly with berry notes. Super handy for the park. I toss a few in the cooler and feel set. The can also stays cold longer, which I love in summer.
Surely Sparkling Rosé
Tart and lively. More punch than sweet. Friends said it tastes a bit like a wine spritz. I like it with spicy noodles. Odd combo, but it works.
Reds that won me over (harder to nail, but these do fine)
Leitz Zero Point Five Pinot Noir
Light body. Cherry, cranberry, soft oak. Warm it a bit and let it sit. It gets better after 10 minutes in the glass. I pair it with mushroom pasta or roast chicken.
Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe black cherry, a touch of vanilla, light tannin. It’s softer than a full cab, but it holds up with pizza or burgers. I bring it to family dinners. No one complains, which says a lot.
Pierre Zéro Merlot
Plum, cocoa, and a round feel. A bit sweeter than the pinot, but cozy with stew. I like it on cold nights, blanket on, movie on.
How I pour so it tastes better
- Chill whites and rosé very cold. Like 45°F cold.
- Reds? Slightly cool. Around 55–60°F.
- Use a real wine glass. Sounds silly, but it matters.
- For reds, give it a swirl and a minute. The smell opens up.
- Keep sparkling bottles capped. Bubbles last two days that way.
Little trick: a squeeze of lemon next to sweeter wines makes food pairings work better. Not in the glass—on the plate.
What I look for on the label
- “Dealcoholized wine” usually beats “wine-style beverage.”
- Sugar can be high. I aim for lower sugar when I want dry.
- Origin helps. Germany and New Zealand make solid NA bottles.
- If it says “still red” and it’s super cheap, I set my hopes low.
Misses I’ve had (so you don’t have to)
Some supermarket reds tasted like flat grape soda. If you want to avoid a similar fate, check out Tasting Table’s non-alcoholic wine brands ranked from worst to best before you buy. No acid, no finish. I won’t name names, but if the first sip is syrupy and the second sip feels heavier, I put the bottle away. Life’s too short.
While we’re on the subject of protecting our senses, I never head to the range without solid muffs—here are the best shooting ear protection I actually use if you need recommendations.
What I serve with what
- Tacos or spicy food: Leitz Sparkling Riesling or Surely Sparkling Rosé
- Sushi, salads, goat cheese: Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc
- Picnic snacks, chips, dips: Leitz Rosé or Sovi cans
- Pizza, burgers, pasta: Ariel Cab or Leitz 0.5 Pinot Noir
- Cake or party toasts: Noughty or Oddbird
Where I find them
I’ve picked these up at my local bottle shop and also at big stores. I’ve seen Fre at grocery chains. Noughty, Leitz, and Giesen show up at wine shops and the fancy aisles. If you ask staff for “dry, not too sweet,” they usually point me right.
For some of my single friends, the appeal of a sober get-together isn’t just the flavor of the wine—it’s meeting someone new without needing a buzz. They swear by Meet and Fuck for lining up low-pressure, like-minded dates, saying the site’s filters make it easy to find exactly what (and who) you’re looking for. My UK pals who swing through York for a no-strings night lean on the detailed, crowd-sourced listings at Erotic Monkey York to vet vibes in advance, getting upfront photos, reviews, and rates before they ever send a message.
Final picks by mood
- Fancy mood: Oddbird Blanc de Blancs
- Weeknight chill: Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc
- Cozy dinner: Leitz Zero Point Five Pinot Noir
- Big group: Fre Sparkling Brut
- Park day: Sovi Sparkling Rosé
- Baby shower or toast: Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay
Big groups at my place usually end with a board-game showdown—if you need ideas, here are the best family games we actually play at my house.
Do they taste exactly like full-strength wine? Not quite. But these get close enough that I don’t miss the headache. And that, honestly, feels like a win.