A review of some of my favorite non-alcoholic white wines for patio season
If you're looking to cut back on your drinking and still enjoy a glass of wine during patio season, consider trying an alcohol-removed wine for easy sipping with a fraction of the calories and none of the headache.
If you are new to non-alcoholic wines, welcome! Before you start sipping, here is one fact I've learned after tasting over 100 non-alcoholic wines: if you expect them to taste exactly like real wines, you will always be disappointed. When you remove the alcohol content it will inevitably change the body, flavor and mouthfeel. So when you try one of these bottles know that you really can't compare apples to apples (or grapes to grapes?). Go in with an open mind and slightly altered expectations that these exist in their own category, separate from "real" wines.
What I Look for in Non-Alcoholic Wine:
I look for a bottle that is:
Affordable, all of these are $25 and under.
Low-Sugar. Please don't replace your alcohol with sugar! Check the bottle (non-alcoholic wines have nutrition labels) and make sure the first ingredient is always dealcoholized wine and sugar is 5-7g max per glass. Any higher than this indicates there is a lot of added grape juice or sugar.
Easy to find at an online shop, Kroger or Amazon.
Maintains some of the characteristics of a real white wine - a non-alcoholic Chardonnay with a whisper of oak, a Sauvignon Blanc with notes of crisp green apple and acidity... these wines do exist!
I've thrown a lot of non-alcoholic wines down the drain and hope that you won't have to. These ones are lovely and I've really enjoyed sipping on them the past few months, so give them a shot. Please also leave me a comment or message with your favorites as well, I'd love to hear from you!
Personal rating: 7.5/10
Price: $25
Save 15% off here with code SOBERISHMOM
"Noughty" Blanc by Thomas & Scott is very easy sipping. There's an excellent balance of fruitiness and acidity, it's crisp and off-dry. At only 25 calories and 3g of sugar per glass, it's an excellent, light choice. I also love the "Noughty" Syrah, reviewed with some of my other favorite nonalcoholic red wines.
Personal Rating: 7/10 Price: $20
Save 15% off here with code SOBERISHMOM
You may see the word "Riesling" and shudder. I know I used to. They're often unfairly categorized as an overly-sweet white wine made for your grandma, but this bottle out of Germany is clean and crisp with a dry finish, presenting notes of green apple, orange citrus and rhubarb. At only 5g of sugar a glass it's a great option.
Luminara Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay
Personal rating: 7.5/10
Price: $24 at Total Wine & More
For my chardonnay lovers, Luminara is the first-ever alcohol-removed wine made from grapes grown in the Napa Valley appellation. This alcohol-removed Chardonnay carries some of the characteristics that Napa chardonnays are known for, with a palate of Fuji apples and buttery, lemon cream. The finish is clean with just a whipser of oak. Very hard to achieve in a non-alcoholic wine and I quite enjoyed it.
Personal rating: 7.5/10 Price: $22 at The Zero Proof (code "Soberishmom" saves 15%) or Amazon
Awarded one of the “Best Nonalcoholic White Wines” by Wine Enthusiast, this is an easy sipper with only 10 calories and 2g of sugar a glass. It’s off-dry with a hint of peach, apple, and a tart finish. Serve it ice cold and it won’t overpower your dishes or leave you with a raging headache the next day. $22 at The Zero Proof or Amazon.
Giesen Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc
Personal rating: 6.5/10
Price: $16 at Kroger
Giesen makes some of my favorite non-alcoholic wines (their brut also made it on my list of sparkling wines), and I believe it's one of the most widely distributed nonalcoholic wines in the United States, so I can often find it at Krogers aroudn the country or Amazon. It has a similar tasting profile to a traditional New Zealand sauvignon blanc. With only 2g of sugar per 5 oz glass, it's light and not overly sweet like many non-alcoholic wines. There's a hint of citrus and nice balance with a crisp finish. A little juice-like, but not too bad for the price tag.
Personal rating: 7.0/10
Price: $20, save 15% here with code "SOBERISHMOM"
Lautus makes excellent non-alcoholic wines, and I also like that these are available in cans so you don't have to open an entire bottle. On the palate you'll taste a note of lemongrass and green apple, with a very faint minerality and lingering acidity. It's light-bodied and low-sugar, perfect for sunny weather. I lso enjoyed their chardonnay and "Savvy Red," so the can sampler is a fun one to get for $25.
Be Well Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay
Personal rating: 6.5/10
Price: $16 at Total Wine & More
Be Well Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay is a decent substitute when skipping the real deal. You can taste a hint of golden delicious apple and honey, and it does have a slightly oaky finish, not quite as prominent as the Luminara. With only 2g of sugar a glass it's not overly sweet and refreshing, though a tad on the watery side.
You can find most of these wines on Amazon or at one of my favorite online shops, The Zero Proof, where you can enjoy 15% off all purchases with code SOBERISHMOM (this is an affiliate link which means if you make a purchase I will make a couple bucks at no cost to you). Happy clean drinking this spring. Leave me a comment with some of your favorite n/a wines, I'd love to hear from you. Cheers!