A review of some of my favorite non-alcoholic rosé wines (and a few to skip)
One of the most frequent requests I get is for my favorite non-alcoholic wines. And I know why - it's the category that admittedly has the furthest to go and can be the most disappointing. I've thrown a lot of nonalcoholic rose down the drain this year, and hopefully you won't have to after reading this list.
Here is a list of the best non-alcoholic still rosés I've enjoyed lately (and a few I wouldn't buy again). I also have a list of my favorite non-alcoholic sparkling rosés if you're looking for some bubbles.
Let me be perfectly honest... are these the perfect dupes to "real" wines? No. That does not exist, as far as I can tell. When you remove the alcohol content it inevitably changes the body and flavor. So when you try nonalcoholic wines know that you really can't compare apples to apples (or grapes to grapes?), but these are some delicious ones that actual scratch the wine itch for me. And when you approach non-alcoholic wines I suggest going in with an open mind and slightly lowered... actually, let's say altered... expectations.
But first... why is non-alcoholic wine so damn expensive?
When I first started experimenting with non-alcoholic wines I was outraged at how expensive they were. I wondered if it was really worth it to pony up on a bottle without the buzz. But now I will happily pay the same amount to enjoy a nice glass of non-alcoholic wine every once in awhile. I figure what I spend avoiding booze I gain back tenfold in health benefits. I also realized that for me, it wasn't just about the buzz. I truly love and appreciate a delicious wine, and I also like to have something tasty during happy hour or at a party where everyone around me is drinking. It has really helped me stay on track drinking less (here are a few of my top tips if you're trying to cut back on alcohol).
The similarity in price is mainly because the production costs remain the same, if not more, for alcohol-removed wines. Vintners use the same initial winemaking production process as they do with regular wine. However, then production involves one additional element: the removal of the alcohol. This is done through very expensive technology and equipment, usually vacuum distillation or reverse osmosis. During this process the volume of wine also decreases, which is why many add in juices to recover some of their cost and balance the flavor. So you're talking about all the costs of grapes, making wine, removing alcohol, labor, and also now marketing a new alcohol-free product. That's a lot for a winery to take on, so I'll pony up.
Personal rating: 7.5/10
Price: $25 Found at The Zero Proof (Use code "Soberishmom" for 10% off anything*)
"Noughty" alcohol-free wines by Thomson and Scott are some of my favorites, with both their Syrah and sparkling wine making my "Best Of" round-ups. I really like this still nonalcoholic rosé as well, which is light and refreshing with soft notes of strawberry and a nice acidity. At only 25 calories a glass it’s the perfect summer drink. Compared with the other winner on this list, Giesen Rosé, it’s quite similar but the flavor is a tad more ripe (think a touch sweeter).
Giesen Non-Alcoholic Rosé
Personal rating: 7.5/10
Price: $15
Found at Total Wine & More
This dealcoholized rosé from Giesen is lovely, with notes of bright, citrus-forward berry. With less than 3g of sugar per glass it’s perfect for guilt-free, porch-sipping and a wonderful base for alcohol-free sangria.
Sovi Non-Alcoholic Rose
Personal rating: 5/10
Price: $28
Found at The Zero Proof (Use code "Soberishmom" for 10% off anything*)
This rosé is the lowest-calorie of all I tried, at only 15 calories and 2g of sugar a glass. It definitely tastes the lightest as well, verging on watery. It’s got a lovely pink hue and a very soft flavor of rose petals, with a dry finish. But not a ton going on, especially for the price tag.
Proxies Pink Salt
Personal rating: 6/10
Price: $28
Found at The Zero Proof (Use code "Soberishmom" for 10% off anything*)
Labeled “not wine - a wine alternative,” this is definitely unlike any rosé you’ve had. Sometimes the non-alcoholic drinks that aren’t trying to taste like wine are the most successful, and this one is very unique. It’s not made from dealcoholized wine, rather it’s a combination of juices, teas, spices and more. The flavor reminds me of a mild kombucha - very acidic with notes of fresh fruit and citrus. It has interesting spice notes of sage, salt and Sichuan peppers. I enjoyed the flavor with a dish of simple lemon pasta, and it even stood up next to a meatball on the side. If it cost the same as kombucha I would buy it again, but at $30 a bottle I wouldn't and I'm having trouble understanding how they justify the high price tag given the ingredients list.
Joyus Non-Alcoholic Rosé Personal rating: 6.5/10
Price: $15
Found directly at Joyus.com
Joyus is an award-winning, female-founded company based out of my hometown of Seattle, WA. Their sparkling white is one of my favorites, and they make beautiful wines. This still rosé is very light at only 15 calories a glass, an easy sipper but a little bland. There are soft notes of peach and watermelon, but it lacked the acidity I was hoping for and not much flavor lingers on your palate. I like that it's light, low-calorie and refreshing.
Stella Rosa Non-Alcoholic Rosé
Personal rating: 2/10
Price: $15
Found at Kroger
The hard truth is that it is almost impossible to find decent non-alcoholic wines at the grocery store, where I found this one. Stella Rosa Non-Alcoholic Rosé is not made from dealcoholized wine, so it doesn’t have any interesting flavor notes that you would get from a good non-alcoholic wine. It’s a combination of soda, sugar and juice - a sugar bomb with 18g in one 5-oz pour. It’s also carbonated but wasn’t labeled as so which was a little frustrating. This is the type of bottle giving non-alcoholic wines a bad name. I give it 2 pts instead of zero because it's my toddler's favorite and would be fun to serve at a child's tea party. Run, don't walk, in the other direction.
Happy clean drinking! You can use code SoberishMom for 10% off at The Zero Proof, my favorite online shop for ordering. *Please note that this is an affiliate code, which means at zero cost to you I will make a couple bucks if you use my code at checkout, which helps me keep the account running. Affiliate programs do not impact my reviews and recommendations.
Watch me review these wines on my Instagram and as always, leave me a comment with your favorite alcohol-free drinks, I'd love to hear from you. Cheers!