Don’t be put off by past experiences – non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wine alternatives (not to mention booze-free sparkling wine, spirits and beers) have come a long way in recent years.
Whatever your reason for giving up, there’s frankly never been a better time to be a non-drinker, as the growing demand for no and low alcohol tipples has caused a boom in exciting offerings from leading winemakers and distillers around the world.
So, whether you're looking to go booze-free or simply trying to cut down, there's plenty of choice out there – and our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have found the very best bottles to try.
Best no and low alcohol wines for 2024
Runner-up non-alcoholic red wine
Oddbird Domaine de la Prade Merlot Shiraz 0%
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Best budget non-alcoholic wine
Sainsbury's Alcohol Free Red 0%
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How is non-alcoholic wine made?
There are three conventional methods used to make no- and low-alcohol wines:
- Vacuum distillation, which removes the alcohol, before blending aromatics back in afterwards.
- Spinning cone technology follows a similar theme but uses inverted cones and centrifugal forces to de-alcoholise the wine through multiple rounds of low-temperature evaporation and condensation.
- Finally, there’s reverse osmosis, which implements a sophisticated filtration system, allowing the wine to pass through, but not the alcohol.
How does non-alcoholic wine taste?
It will come as no surprise that removing the alcohol inevitably compromises the flavour, so many winemakers will add botanicals and other enhancements (such as green tea, sugar and concentrated grape must) to bolster the flavour and mouthfeel.
What is the difference between no- and low-alcohol wines?
According to current UK government guidance, drinks that contain up to 1.2% ABV can be labelled as no or low alcohol. To put that into context, a ripe banana can contain up to 0.5% alcohol!
How we test non-alcoholic wine
Our panel of WSET trained experts and discerning consumers sipped their way through 68 alcohol-free wines – from robust reds to refreshing whites — to find their favourites.
Each was blind tested to avoid bias, and judged on its aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and ability to pair with food.
Best non-alcoholic red wine
Score: 83/100
This booze-free shiraz was our highest scoring non-alcoholic wine across all white, red and sparkling categories. It picked up top points for deliciously pronounced notes of black fruit and authentic, well-integrated tannins. You certainly won’t feel as though you’re missing out with this in hand.
Score: 77/100
Aged for 12 months, this blend of merlot and shiraz grapes is full of juicy red fruit, with cherry, plum and blackberry at the fore. A touch of warm spice (think clove, cinnamon and black pepper) brings balance, for what our panel deemed a “convincing” red wine replacement.
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Score: 75/100
A blend of garnacha and syrah grapes, this Spanish red is fermented and aged before the alcohol is removed. Testers enjoyed the clean, light body, along with notes of cranberry, blackberry and red cherry. It's ideal for when you’re not in the mood for booze, but still fancy a great glass of red with your spag bol.
Score: 74/100
Although the Adnams sauvignon blanc picked up more points, this cabernet tempranillo is still a worthy drop. It’s sweet and slightly confected, and while it’s not overly complex it delivers big, bold blackcurrant notes and a dry finish.
Score: 72/100
Merlot tends to be an easy drinking choice at the best of times, and this budget-friendly bottle is every bit as soft and light as your regular red. At its heart, you’ll find fresh red cherry, making it a great match for roasted veggies and tomato-based dishes.
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Score: 72/100
Testers thought Marks & Spencer’s merlot could easily have been mistaken for an inexpensive bottle of full-strength red thanks to ripe red cherries, a herbaceous element and convincing tannins.
Score: 70/100
Wednesday's Domaine starts with de-alcoholised tempranillo and then blends this base wine with additional natural flavours to compensate for the removed alcohol.
It seems to have done the trick, with testers describing the nose as “rich and complex”, with notes of red berries and spice. It's a little lighter on the palate, however, with more sour cherry coming through on the finish.
Score: 70/100
Made with South African syrah grapes, the Noughty range avoids using unnecessary sugars, clocking up just 14 calories a glass, making it far from naughty.
Flavour-wise, you can expect a more savoury style of wine — think notes of blackcurrant leaf, tobacco and leather — alongside red and black fruit.
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Score: 70/100
A robust red packed with cassis, black cherry and warm liquorice aromas. High tannins create a satisfyingly smooth mouthfeel, mimicking the indulgent experience of sipping a higher ABV red.
Score: 70/100
Not sure alcohol-free wine is for you? This budget-friendly bottle from Sainsbury's allows you to dip your toe in the water, with plenty of change from five pounds. You can expect pronounced blackberry notes, currants, and a long-lasting, sweet finish.
Best non-alcoholic white wine
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Score: 81/100
Looking for an alcohol-free alternative to your beloved sauvignon blanc? Look no further. This inexpensive white has all the tropical fruit flavour you’d expect from this grape, however it’s a touch sweeter than the real deal. Serve well-chilled and pair with everything from roast chicken to spicy food.
Score: 80/100
Coming a close second is this Spanish de-alcoholised sauvignon blanc from British brand Adnams. The flavour profile leans towards juicy white peach, honeysuckle and baked apples, which lends itself well to all-day easy drinking.
Score: 77/100
Gewurztraminer tends to be a complex grape with a powerful nose, and our panel found this well-balanced wine to be no exception.
Perfectly refreshing when served chilled, it opens with lemon and elderflower, moving towards asparagus on the finish. There’s certainly no need to be cautious around this one.
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Score: 77/100
This muscat impressed our panel with its intense palate of candied lemon, ripe peach and orange blossom. Velvety smooth, we’d recommend pairing this sweeter style with nuttier cheeses like comté or gouda for a post-dinner treat.
Score: 76/100
Our panel gave crisp, clean Zeno the thumbs up for its beautiful tropical fruit palate. The combination of stone fruit and lychee proved popular, and would pair well with seafood and spicy food.
Score: 75/100
If full-strength chenin blanc is your usual go-to white wine, we think this — made from Spanish airen grapes — would make a satisfying stand-in.
It's light and fruity without being overly sweet or cloying, with hints of vanilla, apple, melon and pear adding to its fresh appeal.
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Score: 74/100
Eisberg hits all the classic sauvignon blanc notes, with opening aromas of gardenia, honeysuckle and elderflower, while gooseberry helps to bring both bite and balance. Delicious paired with white fish dishes such as crispy cod and pearl barley risotto.
Score: 73/100
The price tag might seem a bit steep for an alcohol-free vino, however Oddbird’s Italian white is both organic and low intervention, so a very well-made wine. It comes from the Veneto region (where they also make prosecco) and has a similarly sweet flavour, with notes of gooseberry, lemon peel, green pepper and asparagus.
Tested byCallum Black
Food and Drink Testing Manager
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
