Alcohol-free wine is gaining popularity for many reasons. Maybe you enjoy drinking wine in the evening, but don’t want to feel hungover the next day. Your doctor may have told you to cut back on your alcohol consumption. Or maybe you want to blend in in social situations.
Whatever your reason, there’s no judgment at Free-Wines.com. Just a bunch of helpful information about all types of wine and a (growing) list of tasty recommendations!
What Is Alcohol-Free Wine?
Alcohol-free wine, or non-alcoholic wine, is the same as traditional wine. The only difference is that nearly all of the alcohol has been removed. Despite its name, “non-alcoholic” wine still contains a small amount of alcohol, generally half a percent (0.5%) or less by volume. There are many types of non-alcoholic wine, ranging from red and white to rosé and even bubbly! That means there’s a non-alcoholic wine for just about everyone!
How Is Alcohol-Free Wine Made?
Alcohol-free wine starts by being made the same way as traditional wine. At the end of the process, the winemaker removes the alcohol using one of the following methods:
- Vacuum distillation
- Spinning techniques
- Reverse osmosis
Each of these methods is a scientifically different way to separate the alcohol from the liquid wine. During that process, some aromas and flavors (“aromatics”) are removed with the alcohol. At the end of all three processes, the winemaker generally ensures that these aromatics return to the wine. Some winemakers will add sugar or grape must to replicate the mouthfeel of alcohol. Other winemakers will experiment even more, adding any variety of ingredients to improve the flavor and texture of the wine.
Is There Still Alcohol in Alcohol-Free Wine?
Yes, there is a small amount of alcohol in non-alcoholic wine, typically 0.5% or less by volume. Alcohol-free wine is made the same way as traditional wine, except a majority of the alcohol is removed in the last stages of the process.
If you want to cut out most alcohol for health reasons, non-alcoholic wine may be the right choice for you. But, if you’re pregnant or trying to avoid alcohol altogether, alcohol-free wine won’t be a good option. Consider an alternative like sparkling grape juice, seltzer, or another beverage.
What Are the Benefits of Alcohol-Free Wine?
Alcohol-free wine has many benefits compared to normal wine. Because of its minimal alcohol content, non-alcoholic wine can improve your overall quality of life. These can include:
- Experiencing better physical and mental health
- Maintaining better self-control, for example when driving*
- Participating in social drinking with less peer-pressure
* Always obey driving laws, even when consuming non-alcoholic wine. Remember, alcohol-free wine still contains some alcohol.
Is Alcohol-Free Wine Good for You?
Yes, alcohol-free wine can be good for you, especially if you normally drink wine with full alcohol content. There are plenty of possible health benefits, which may include
- Improve the quality of your sleep
- Improve your mood and ability to focus
- Reduce or eliminate hangovers
- Reduce your stress levels
- Lead to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and certain cancers
If you struggle with alcohol and its side effects, or you want to improve your quality of life, talk to your doctor. There are plenty of non-alcoholic wines to choose from as a healthier alternative.
Is Alcohol-Free Wine Safe During Pregnancy?
No. Despite its name, alcohol-free wine still contains a small amount of alcohol. Generally, people should avoid consuming any alcohol during pregnancy. Consider an alternative to non-alcoholic wine like sparkling grape juice, which does not contain alcohol. If you’re still unsure, contact your doctor for their professional advice.
Does Alcohol-Free Wine Taste as Good as Normal Wine?
Yes! Non-alcoholic wine is designed to taste as good as traditional alcohol-containing wine. Depending on the wine (and your preferences), you might even prefer the taste!
Of course, some wines are better quality than others. The process some winemakers use to remove alcohol from the wine may alter the taste a bit. That’s why we’re curating a list of tasty, Free-Wines.com Approved wines, so you can trust our recommendation, not your gut.
Types of Alcohol-Free Wine
There are many types of non-alcoholic wine, which can make it hard to pick. We’re breaking it down into four categories: red, white, rosé, and champagne (bubbly).
From there, we’ll help you pick. Whether you like sweet or dry, bold or light, or aren’t sure, trust the experts at Free-Wines.com to get you started in the right direction.
Red Wine
Red wine, an iconic way to add class to a meal, event, or evening.
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir
- Red Blends
White Wine
White wines, a perfect pairing for lighter meals or to relax after a long day.
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Grigio
- Moscato
- Sauvignon Blanc
Rosé Wine
Rosé, a charming pink-colored wine to spritz up a summer day or an Instagram post.
- Dry Rosé
- Sweet Rosé
Champagne
Bubbly wine, because you could be celebrating, or just needing to brunch like a boss.
- Sparkling Red Wine
- Sparkling Rosé
- Sparkling White Wine
Where to Buy Alcohol-Free Wine
Non-alcoholic wine is quickly gaining popularity in the United States. There’s a good chance your local liquor store has some in stock. But, your local liquor store may not have many options, and they may not give you much information about the wine on their shelves.
Here at Free-Wines.com, we’re putting together a list of our favorite non-alcoholic wines so you don’t have to look as hard.
Read reviews of two of our favorites, Grüvi and Boisson. Or, check out our full list!
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