Trying to cut back on mid-week wines or simply taking a more mindful approach to alcohol? There is a plethora of choice these days, from de-alcoholised wine to 100 per cent alcohol-free drops. You can even buy ‘mid-strength’ wines now, if you only want to play it a little light. Whatever the occasion, we’ve got you covered with this list of eight New Zealand and Australian-made options.
Moo Brew Notto Blotto
TasmaniaWhat’s this, then? It’s not a beer, although it’s made in a brewery. This is ‘hop soda’, a new drinks category that hit its straps in the US and has finally made it to Australian shores. It’s basically the ‘essence’ of hops, without the booze – think sparkling water with a slightly citrusy kick (hot tip: add ice and a wedge of lemon). Drink this if you’re not sure if you want a lemon squash or a glass of bubbles.
RRP $12 (per 4-pack) | 0.0% alc
Sidewood Nearly Naked
South AustraliaAdelaide Hills producer Sidewood has added two no-alc rosés to its Nearly Naked range, which includes a sauvignon blanc and sparkling white. Pitched as a ‘luxury’ alcohol-free alternative, the wines are made from estate fruit and de-alcoholised post fermentation. At $22 for the still rosé and $26 for the NV sparkling, they’re more expensive than their competitors. Some might say they’re made of better stuff, too. The sparkling rosé, in particular, is nicely tart.
RRP $22–$26 | 0.0% alc
2021 Konpira Maru Class M Planet Dolcetto
North East Victoria“Best served chilled with a bowl of spaghetti alla puttanesca with a light dusting of young pecorino,” say Konpira Maru makers Sam Cook and Alastair Reed of their first foray into the world of alcohol-free wines, here with a de-alcoholised King Valley dolcetto. It has all the freshness and crunch their full-strength natty reds are known for, with plum and strawberry notes and a bit more grip than your average supermarket-brand alcohol-free number.
RRP $20 | 0.5% alc
NON
VariousThis costs more than the average per-bottle spend on an alcoholic wine because Aaron Trottman and William Wade, founder and maker of NON, respectively, don’t cut corners: the fruit and veg are real and each batch is handmade. Natural flavours are blended with a verjuice base for still and sparkling results – our top picks right now are the umami-laden roast beetroot and sansho (NON4) to a sprightly lemon marmalade and hibiscus (NON5).
RRP $30 | 0.0% alc
NV Giesen Zero Sparkling Brut
Marlborough NZGiesen’s Zero Sauvignon Blanc is the number one selling alcohol-free wine in the world. This outrageous success encouraged continued investment in the alcohol-free category – the label recently bought a new booze-removing spinning cone that’s 10 times bigger than the original. In December, Giesen added a zero-proof sparkling wine to the range, currently a Woolworths exclusive. No word on what grape varieties are used to make it, but we can tell you that it finishes dry.
RRP $18 | 0.5% alc
NV Plus & Minus Zero Alc Prosecco
Adelaide HillsPlus & Minus is the product of Fourth Wave Wine, a SA-based company with a rep for sustainable vineyard management and lightweight packaging. Winemaker Corey Ryan does a good job, alcohol or not. I took a bottle of this to Christmas lunch to share with my tee-totalling mother, an act that resulted in her feeling included and my staying awake past 3pm. Win-win.
RRP $14 | 0.5% alc
NV Ara Zero Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough NZGiesen also owns Ara Wines, so no surprise to learn it uses identical spinning cone technology. The Ara Zero Sauvignon Blanc – which presents with the same gooseberry, tropical vibe as its 12.5% sauvignon blanc sibling – has also won its fair share of awards, including Best Wine at the 2023 World Alcohol-Free Awards, a gold medal at IWSC’s Low & No Awards in 2022 and Best of Show Sauvignon Blanc at Mundus Vini in 2023 (in the low-alc category).
RRP $18 | 0.5% alc
Tread Softly Grenache
South AustraliaThe Tread Softly range is naturally lower in alcohol, meaning that its ABV is the result of early picking and shorter ferments. Like Plus & Minus above, this environmentally focused brand is also owned by Fourth Wave. Some varieties are more successful than others – this grenache still has a lot of guts for a 10.8% wine, but the pinot noir is one for the fans.
RRP $16 | 10.8% alc
