The 10 Best Non-Alcoholic Wines of 2023

The phrase “non-alcoholic wine” may sound counterintuitive, but sometimes it’s exactly what the evening calls for. Among the many reasons to go non-alcoholic (Dry January, designated driver, baby on the way, religious reasons, or simply taking a recovery day from a heavy-hitting night prior), one thing’s for sure: Taste should never be sacrificed. We’ve rounded up our favorite non-alcoholic bottles for all your booze-free needs. But first, what exactly is non-alcoholic wine?

Many consumers think that non-alcoholic wine is simply unfermented grape juice, but high-quality bottles are actually made with the same processes that are used for regular wine. “Yeasts and the vinification process are the biggest difference between alcohol-free wine and grape juice,” explains Thierry Cowez, oenologist and dealcoholized winemaker for MIS Services in Belgium. According to Cowez, true non-alcoholic or dealcoholized wine is produced from wine that has been fermented with yeasts and has undergone a vinification process; the alcohol is then removed through processes such as reverse osmosis or vaccum distillation.

“Once you remove the alcohol, the beverage reminds you of wine, although it doesn’t taste exactly like it,” says Cowez. Dealcoholized wines are then generally ‘rebuilt’ with natural flavors and oenological products to replicate the elements lost during distillation.

Dealcoholized wine, including our top pick Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling, delivers a full spectrum of flavors that can only be achieved through fermentation and vinification. Other fruit-based products marketed as non-alcoholic wine are simply juice. However, Cowez notes that there’s currently no legal difference between dealcoholized wines (true non-alcoholic wines) and grape juice, which can cause confusion for consumers.

The non-alcoholic wine in the list below are all made the same way as regular wine and then dealcoholized, ensuring top quality. Pick one up the next time you’re craving the flavor of your favorite bottle without the booze.

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling at Drizly

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Best Red:

Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon at Amazon

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Runner-Up, Best Red:

Fre Merlot at Drizly

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Best White:

Giesen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 0% Alcohol at Amazon

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Runner-Up, Best White:

Luminara Alcohol-Removed Chardonnay at Instacart.com

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Best Sparkling:

Codorníu Zero Brut Alcohol-Free at Drizly

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Best Rosé:

St. Regis Nonalcoholic Shiraz Rosé at Amazon

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Best Off-Dry:

Noughty Alcohol-Free Sparkling White Wine at Amazon

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Best for Brunch:

Freixenet Sparkling Alcohol-Removed Wine at Drizly

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Best for the Holidays:

Codorníu Zero Rosé Alcohol-Free at Drizly

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Drizly

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Region: Rheingau, Germany | Body: Light to Medium-bodied | Tasting Notes: Lime, Green apples, Minerals

This zesty dealcoholized riesling is a favorite amongst industry professionals (including Laura Maniec of Corkbuzz and Christy Frank of Copake Wines), and it’s no surprise why. The wine’s zingy palate oozes with flavors of citrus, lime, green apples, and minerals. In addition to producing fantastic alcoholic rieslings, Leitz has pioneered non-alcoholic options for almost 15 years.

“Leitz Eins Zwei Zero sparkling Riesling is a dry, crisp sparkler from the Rheingau that shows off the variety’s full aromatic spectrum, from fresh white flowers to white peach to salty sea spray,” says Chris Raftery, sommelier at Gramercy Tavern, calling the bottle “a delicious, mouthwatering sparkling option that just happens to have no alcohol—and also comes in can!”

Sip this wine chilled with takeout favorites or simply enjoy solo.

Total Wine

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Region: California, USA | Body: Full-bodied | Tasting Notes: Black currants, Cherries, Milk chocolate

What’s better than a warming glass of full-bodied cabernet sauvignon? This big-boned bottle has flavors of black currants, meaty cherries, milk chocolate, blackberry skin, and sweet baking spice. Silky tannins and soft acid lead to a dry, palate-coating finish. Despite presenting classic cab flavors, this wine has less than 0.5% ABV. Sip with juicy steaks or hearty lentil stews.

Total Wine

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Region: California, USA | Body: Medium to Full-bodied | Tasting Notes: Black plums, Cherries, Sweet spice

Silky flavors of black plums, cherries, and sweet spice jump from this dealcoholized merlot’s rich and velvety palate. The classically-styled red will pair nicely with a variety of heartier dishes and flavors on the table. Serve with mushrooms, sharp cheeses, red meats, vegan stews, and more.

Related: The Best Gifts for Wine Lovers

Giesen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 0% Alcohol

Total Wine

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Region: Marlborough | Body: Light-Bodied | Tasting Notes: Citrus, Currant

Although best known for its full-alcohol sauvignon blanc, Giesen produces a 0% ABV bottling that is made with just as much care. To create this wine, Giesen takes its full-strength sauvignon blanc and uses spinning cone technology to gently extract the alcohol from the wine. The resulting product is just as aromatic and flavor-packed as the original—just without the booze. Expect flavors of lime, citrus rind, and passion fruit that lead to a textbook zesty and dry finish.

Total Wine

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Region: Napa Valley, California | Body: Medium to Full-Bodied | Tasting Notes: Green apple, Tropical fruit, Lemon cream

Satisfy chardonnay cravings sans booze with this dealcoholized bottling. Produced in the heart of California’s Napa Valley, it offers flavors of green apple, tropical fruit, and lemon cream. Aging the wine in both French and American oak provides hints of sweet baking spice, which leads to a long and luminous finish. Serve with cheese boards, seared scallops, or poultry-based dishes.

Total Wine

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Region: Penedès, Spain | Body: Medium-bodied | Tasting Notes: Lemon skin, Stone fruit, Honey

Codorniu is a leading producer of cava, and naturally it makes a delicious dealcoholized sparkler. On the palate, notes of lemon skin, white stone fruit, honey, and citrus rind lead to a pleasantly lingering finish. Serve chilled with fresh seafood, salads, or crudité platters.

Related: The Best Wine Fridges

Total Wine

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Region: France | Body: Medium to Full-Bodied | Tasting Notes: Red currants, Raspberries, Citrus

It’s not just for summer anymore: Wine-drinkers have embraced rosé as a year-round go-to for pairing with a variety of dishes—and this alcohol-free version promises to satisfy an array of palate preferences. Notes of red currants, raspberries, and citrus jump from the wine’s zesty palate, which leads to a mouth-coating, lingering finish. Sip chilled with smoked ham and melon, crab cakes, or fried appetizers.

Noughty Alcohol-Free Sparkling White Wine

Better Rhodes

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Region: Spain | Body: Medium-Bodied | Tasting Notes: Ripe apple, Pear

Crafted from chardonnay grown in the sunny south of Spain, this off-dry alcohol-free sparkling wine presents just the right amount of sweetness. Flavors of ripe apple and pear dominate the wine’s pleasantly fizzy palate; the finish is energetic, refreshing, and just a tad sweet. Pop this bottle at your next at-home happy hour or for weekend brunches.

Freixenet Sparkling Alcohol-Removed Wine

Total Wine

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Region: Penedès, Spain | Body: Light-Bodied | Tasting Notes: Citrus, Tropical fruit, Lemon zest

Brunch and bubbles go hand in hand, and this bottle from Freixenet is a great option to have on the table. The cuvée was first launched in 2011, after two years of winemaking trials and extensive market research. The wine’s bubbly palate is loaded with flavors of ripe citrus, tropical fruits, and lemon zest. Persistent mousse and well-balanced residual sugar lead to a vibrant finish.

“The fundamentals in producing superior wine, including Freixenet Alcohol-Removed, are quality grapes and winemaking expertise,” says Greg Berumen, VP of Marketing at Freixenet Mionetto USA. He notes that labor-intensive techniques are used during the alcohol removal process to ensure that fruit-forward flavors and freshness are not sacrificed.

Total Wine

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Region: Penedès, Spain | Body: Light to Medium-Bodied | Tasting Notes: Strawberry, Red fruit

Produced in Spain, this sparkling rosé from Codorniu shows flavors of strawberries and red fruits that promise to please lovers of rosé and bubbles. Stash a few of these in the fridge and ensure that all of your booze-free bases are covered for last-minute gifts, parties, and impromptu celebrations.

Related: The Best Non-alcoholic Beers

What Our Experts Say

“To keep up with the latest in non-alcoholic options, follow industry leaders (Julia Bainbridge, The Zero Proof, Han Suk Cho), and check out some amazing NA bottle shops that have recently opened over the past couple years (like Boisson and Spirited Away in NYC). There are so many exciting things happening in this space. It's a great time to take a break, for whatever reason!”

— Chris Raftery, sommelier at Gramercy Tavern

Final Verdict

While the experts seem to agree that Leitz (view at Vivino) is putting out the highest-quality products, we found that Codorniu sparkling (view at Total Wine) and Giesen sauvignon blanc (view at Total Wine) are equally respectable options.

What to Look For

When seeking out non-alcoholic wine, look for dealcoholized products. These wines undergo the same fermentation and vinification processes as regular wines before alcohol is removed via processes such as reverse osmosis or vaccuum distillation. Note: Most dealcoholized wines will have traces of alcohol, but generally no more than 0.5%.

FAQs

How is non-alcoholic wine made?

True non-alcoholic wine is made via the dealcoholization process, meaning the grapes are fermented, vinified, and created into a fully alcoholic product, then the alcohol is removed via methods such as vacuum distillation and reverse osmosis. Non-alcoholic “wine" that has not gone through fermentation, vinification, and dealcoholization processes is simply fancy grape juice.

How long does non-alcoholic wine last after opening?

Unopened, non-alcoholic wine’s shelf life is much shorter than its alcoholic counterparts. Generally speaking, these bottles only last for one or two years. Once the bottle is open, experts recommend consuming non-alcoholic wine within a few days—just as you would the alcoholic version.

Are there any trace amounts of alcohol in non-alcoholic wine?

Generally speaking, yes, though in very minimal amounts (and dependent on how the “wine” was made). Real non-alcoholic wines—i.e. wines produced via the dealcoholization process—will tend to have traces of alcohol in them, though certainly not enough to offer a buzz. On the contrary, non-alcoholic “wine” produced without a fermentation and vinification process will have zero alcohol content whatsoever—which makes sense, given that these products are simply grape juice with a fancier label.

What is the best way to store non-alcoholic wine?

Non-alcoholic wines should be stored away from direct sunlight, and any drastic temperature swings should be avoided. We recommend simply throwing them in the fridge and serving at your desired temperature.

Why Trust Liquor.com?

This roundup was edited by Jesse Porter, who has worked as a sommelier at numerous California restaurants featuring excellent wine programs. He has also worked as a wine educator for corporate groups and wine-tasting clubs.

Vicki Denig is a wine, spirits, and travel journalist who splits her time between New York and Paris. Her work regularly appears in major industry publications. She is the content creator and social media manager for a list of prestigious clients, including Sopexa, Paris Wine Company, Becky Wasserman, Volcanic Selections, Le Du’s Wines, Windmill Wine & Spirits and Corkbuzz. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine.