If you’re like me and you indulged a bit too much over the Christmas period, I’ve got your back. I’ve put together a list of the best non-alcoholic wine options for this year’s Dry January with a special mention. There are also some smart alternatives to wine that will definitely feel like you’re having a drink but without the guilt and brain fog the next morning.

When I first tried Dry January a few years ago I was shocked at the limited selection of non-alcoholic wines on offer. I’d known about non-alcoholic beers, I call them “Zero Beers”, for a while and knew I could definitely get my fix through those but I was seriously surprised when I couldn’t really find a decent non-alcoholic wine. It was only by chance that I was walking through Selfridges wine department during my Dry January stint, that I stumbled, yes I did actually stumble, past a sales assistant offering a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling wine. I tried it and didn’t gag which was a shock as most non-alcoholic wine back then wasn’t the best tasting.

That non-alcoholic wine was French Bloom and was actually really nice. At £30 a bottle you’re shelling out a pretty penny for a non-alcoholic wine that doesn’t give you a buzz but it does feel like you’re having a proper drink.

Discover them in the Pocket Sommelier app

All of these non-alcoholic wine and alternatives can be scanned in the Pocket Sommelier wine pairing app. Simply grab the bottle (or can), open the Pocket Sommelier app and scan the bottle to see them in more detail as well as discover some great food pairings. Scan the QR code below to download the Pocket Sommelier app from the app store.

QR code to download the Pocket Sommelier app

How is non alcoholic wine made?

Someone may tell you that non alcoholic wine is just unfermented grape juice, which may be true for a tiny proportion of non alcoholic wines, most of them especially the better versions start off as being fully fledged alcoholic wines. They then go through a very complicated process of removing the alcohol known as “dealcoholisation”. The most important part of this is to ensure the original wine maintains it complex tannins, flavour and acidity.

There are three main ways to make non alcoholic wine:

Reverse osmosis:
Wine is forced through a fine membrane that has very tiny holes, so tiny in fact that it only allows water and alcohol through. This then leaves behind the essence of the wine, think aromas, flavour characteristics, etc. The alcohol and water mixture is then distilled to remove the alcohol. Once all the alcohol is removed, the distilled fluid is then mixed back in with the wine essence to produce a non-alcoholic wine.
Vacuum Distillation
The boiling point of wine drops by nearly half when boiled in a vacuum. Down from 78 degrees celsius to 30 degrees celsius, this then allows the delicate floral aromas of the wine to be preserved which would have been lost if they were subjected to high heat.
Spinning Cone Columns
This one always sounds sci-fi to me. The wine is past through a column of inverted cones, during the first pass a very fine mist is produced that allow the wine aromas to be lifted out of the wine, which is then reserved. The second pass involves higher temperatures that removes the alcohol from the remaining wine. The two liquids are then remixed and blended to make a non-alcoholic wine.

Is there an alcohol-free wine that actually tastes like wine?

Yes! Most of the wine on the list have a wine-like aroma and characteristics that are very similar to wine except none of them will give you that “buzz” you get from alcoholic wine.

What is the best tasting non alcoholic wine?

In my opinion, the best tasting non alcoholic wine has to be either French Bloom, if you like sparkling wine that’s similar to Champagne and want to splurge, or anything from Wednesday’s Domaine. They have a superb selection of non alcoholic still wines.

The list: 9 Best non alcoholic wines for this Dry January

Elton John Zero (Special mention)
Le Blanc - French Bloom
Festillant - Gratien and Meyer
Noughty - Thomson and Scott
Mille Bolle Non Alcoholic Sparkling Wine
Wednesday’s Domaine
Jukes Cordialities
Zeno non-alcoholic wine
Botivo Botanical Aperitivo (not a wine but still good!)

Mille Bolle, often referred to as just “Bolle”, is another stand out non alcoholic sparkling wine option. Mille bolle translates to “a thousand bubbles” and is the brainchild of the visionary Italian oenologist Roberto Vanin. It is twice fermented which produces a much more authentic mouthfeel than standard carbonated juices. It is Chardonnay-based and pairs beautifully with light seafood, fresh salads, or creamy cheeses, making it a perfect centerpiece for any celebration.