Alcohol is intrinsic to wine. It’s an important structural component that, when removed, must be filled with acidity or sugar — usually sugar. Removing alcohol also diminishes complexity. Yet non-alcoholic wines have come a long way with both small producers and big brands now in the game. Here are six standout bottles in a range of styles — starting with a smart Spanish Tempranillo.
NV Oddbird Addiction Organic Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, Spain
Red wine lovers looking for something outstanding in the non-alc space will appreciate this bottle. The colour runs a deep, ruby-purple, and the nose shows real complexity, suggesting muddled blackberries with a touch of graphite and dried oregano. The palate is bold, dry-tasting and savoury, with a firm blackberry centre laced with cola, tea leaf, oregano and slate. This drinks like a traditional Spanish red with grippy, drying tannins and an attractive earthy undertow. Tastes drier than the sugar level suggests, and it’s worth the price. (<0.5% alc., 30 g/L)
2024 Kim Crawford Illuminate Dealcoholized Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
If you like Kim Crawford’s popular Sauvignon Blanc and are looking for a non-alc alternative, pick up this new listing at the LCBO. Think of it as Kim’s designated-driver cousin — same vibe, no buzz whatsoever. The fragrance is forward and fruit-driven, with kiwi and lime on the nose. The attack is zesty-bright and mouth-watering with a satiny texture — a luminous rush of refreshment suggesting kiwi and lemon-lime sorbet before tapering to a dried-apricot finish. Lively acidity keeps the finish clean and hides the sugar. (0.5% alc., 22 g/L sugar)
NV Oddbird Low Intervention Sparkling Orange No. 1, Alsace, France
Here’s one of the first non-alc orange wines in the world, a quietly revolutionary bottle made from hand-picked organic grapes. Orange wine is white wine fermented on its skins, and here the alcohol is then gently removed. Each glassful shines a watercolour wash of apricot and coral, threaded with tiny strings of pearly bubbles. The aroma suggests apple butter on warm bread, while each sip tastes bracing and juicy — a flood of spiced peach, pomelo, blackberry and rose. Slowly, subtle smokiness emerges on the long, dry-tasting finish. (<0.5% alc., 40 g/L sugar)
Freixenet Sparkling Rosé Alcohol Free, Penedès, Spain
Shining pale pink in the glass with delicate effervescence, this wine looks like traditional sparkling. The fragrance suggests strawberries and cream — pure, simple and refreshing. The entry is brisk and tart — like a squeeze of lemon with a touch of sour cherry — before easing into softer red-berry notes. While not complex, it is pure-fruited and quenching with a certain measure of elegance. This is a wine to chill right down and serve as an aperitif, cocktail style with a twist of citrus. (0.5% alc., 35 g/L sugar)
Mionetto Prestige De-Alcoholized Sparkling Wine, Veneto, Italy
If you like the popular Mionetto Prosecco, this de-alcoholized expression tastes similar. The fragrance suggests pears poached in sugar. A racy attack that’s not wildly complex but certainly well-balanced and lip-smacking. The flavours call to mind orchard fruit — a sort of montage of sliced apples, pears and nectarine — while the invigorating acidity and persistent, small bubbles keep the wine poised and upright. Not a lot of length but certainly quenching, this fizz is an easy choice for parties — everyone will know the brand. (0.01% alc., 18 g/L sugar)
Grand Sud Mini Chardonnay Alcohol Free, South of France
(clearsips.ca, $5.95/250mL)
You may be familiar with Grand Sud wines widely available at the LCBO. This non-alc version is not stocked by the province’s liquor giant, but it’s available elsewhere and worth scouting out. Attractively aromatic, scents of sliced Gala apple and lemon lead to a sunlit sweep of vinosity that echoes the aromas. Not terribly complex, but it offers a silky-smooth texture and lightweight viscosity that feels convincingly wine-like. This is not your old-school, grocery-store, non-alc white. Far more satisfying, and it tastes drier than the sugar level suggests. (<0.5% alc., 60 g/L)
