Skipping the buzz—and the calories—has gotten much more enjoyable. Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity.
My list this year includes a couple of debuts and some old favorites. I’ve noted how these beverages were made—some start with fermented grapes—actual wine—then use complex chemistry to remove the alcohol. These might hew closer to a traditional wine to many palates. Then there are beverages that use a mixture of teas, juices, spices or other elements to give the experience of wine—mouthfeel, complex nose and palate. These alternatives are generally not meant to emulate a particular varietal, but rather give the drinker a pleasing adult beverage to enjoy in situations where you’d normally drink wine. Here are this year’s top picks.
This elegant de-alcoholized sparkler has introduced a stylish box set of two half-bottles just in time for the holidays. Developed by Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger, director of the Michelin Guide, and model Constance Jablonski, this is one of the most food-friendly zero-proof wines I’ve ever tried, moving easily from oysters to South Korean banchan. The set offers a split of French Bloom Blanc—elegant and dry, with some lovely floral and pear notes—and one of the French Bloom Rosé, redolent of violet and roses, with lush strawberries and raspberries.
Read the article at Forbes HERE.