Eight years ago, after discovering her pregnancy, a wine enthusiast turned to non-alcoholic options, finding solace in Crodino, a negroni-like aperitivo. While non-alcoholic cocktails and beers have flourished, wine alternatives remain elusive. For many, the joy of wine lies in the experience rather than the alcohol, prompting a search for a worthy substitute—something that can be sipped from a stemmed glass and complements food. Although dealcoholised wines exist, they often lack flavor and are made from cheaply grown fruit. Instead, the focus is on drinks that shine on their own merits, like kombucha, which offers a fermented, alcohol-free option with tannins similar to wine. Brands like Real offer sparkling teas, while Substance/s collaborates with winemakers to create tea-based drinks. In Beaujolais, Romain des Grottes crafts L’Antidote, a gamay grape juice infused with herbs, providing a sophisticated non-alcoholic choice. Feral, a new brand from the Italian Dolomites, uses fermented beet juice to create a non-sparkling, full-bodied alternative, appealing to red wine aficionados. These innovative options provide wine lovers with diverse, non-alcoholic choices to enjoy on special occasions.
Are there genuine non-alcoholic alternatives for wine lovers?
