The Best Non-Alcoholic Red Wine 2023

One of the first questions I had when I decided to take a break from alcohol was - how am I going to find the best non-alcoholic red wine?

What would I drink with my pasta? Was eating a steak without a red even possible?

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I went on a mission to find the best tasting non-alcoholic red wine. Let's just say the experience was....frustrating to say the least. I thought it would be fairly simple to find one after finding some excellent alcohol-free white wines, but no siree.

Ask any winemaker and you'll get the same response - a good dealcoholized red wine is extremely difficult to create. As one winemaker put it to me after I tipped yet another bottle down the sink: 'when you remove the alcohol, you remove the body'.

And let's face it, most of us red wine drinkers are looking for that robust red, where the flavors explode on your tongue and give way to a beautiful, long lasting finish.

The good news is red wine alternatives have come a long way in the last 2 years and they are only getting better.

Below you'll find my reviews for some of the best, and underneath some tips and tricks for having a good non-alcoholic red wine experience.

The Best Red Wine Without Alcohol

In no particular order, here are my recommendations:

The benefits of non-alcoholic red wine

We've talked about the best-non alcoholic red wine, but what about the benefits? Turns out there are plenty!

• The biggest benefit of drinking alcohol-free red wine is somewhat obvious - you are avoiding the consumption of alcohol.

• Many of the best non-alcoholic red wines are also lower in sugar that their alcoholic counterparts - surprising but true!

• They might be good for your heart. Ever heard that Old Wives Tale that drinking red wine is good for your heart? Sorry to tell you, but that myth has been debunked many times over. Alcohol negates any good that the wine might be doing. But with alcohol removed wine, the health properties of the wine remain, and the booze goes. It's a win-win, right?

• I might be stating the obvious here, but alcohol-free wine = hangover free mornings - YES!

Tips and Tricks

My advice and tips for red wine are:

• Go in with an open mind. These wines are not going to taste identical to your full bodied Shiraz, so just let go of the idea of what it’s ‘supposed’ to taste like. Adjusting ones expectations is essential!

• Pair the wine with food - this is where these reds really shine. It’s rare to see me sipping on an alcohol-free red wine the way I would a non-alcoholic sparkling or white. They really do taste best with a meal - I love my reds with pasta, steak and cheese. 

• Open the wine in advance to let it breathe, just as you would with regular wine. I always open mine the morning of, or the night before. I heard a winemaker suggest going so far as to lightly blending your red to air it. I've never done it myself, but I'll try anything once!

• If you are going to stray from my list above, I'd recommend looking for words like 'alcohol-removed wine' or 'dealcoholized wine'. These terms indicate that the wine is in fact, wine. It's likely it has been through the entire winemaking process, and had the alcohol removed at the end. Check the label - if a large % of the contents is grape juice - that's probably what it will taste like!

• I've spoken to people who swear by adding a few drops of balsamic vinegar or bitters to alcohol-free reds to increase the body and depth of flavor - definitely something to try before tipping it down the sink! On that note, don't forget you can always make a non-alcoholic mulled wine if all else fails.

I hope the above has been helpful in choosing the best non-alcoholic red wine.

Questions or comments? Leave them below and I'll answer them for you!