As a wine and spirits writer, my day-to-day is filled with different bottles and bubbles to try. Obviously, that often comes hand in hand with a need for a break — a day or two off booze between sampling.
Thankfully, the non-alcoholic category has been blowing up over the last few years. In 2021, the volume of no- and low-alcohol beverages grew by 31% year-over-year (IWSR). Statista noted that the non-alcoholic market accounts for over $414 million in sales in the United States. With it, brand new bottles and makers are fueling the category, making no-proof options of all my favorite drinks.
But not all products are created equally. It can be tough to capture the textures and complexity of regular-proof beverages without the alcohol.
The following are three new entrants to the non-alcoholic space this month. All are delicious, highly versatile, and capture all the essence of their regular-proof counterparts.
TOST makes single-serving bottles of sparkling wines, sans proof.
TOST Rose Single-Serves
While TOST’s full-size bottles of non-alcoholic wine are perfectly appealing, the brand recently launched petite, single-serve iterations of their sparkling wine(ish)es. Both the white and the rose sparklers are made with a combination of white tea, cranberry, and ginger, though I’m particularly keen on the blush wine. It drinks like a floral wine spritzer — highly refreshing and not sweet in the slightest. Portioned at one (albeit large) glass per bottle, I’d pack a few for a picnic, barbecue, or other al fresco adventure.
Null Wines Sparkling Verdejo
While crafting non-alcoholic spirits is no easy feat, making wine without alcohol is even trickier. Wine is wildly nuanced and alcohol adds body. Without booze? Wines can taste flabby or flat; watery or without weight.
Across the brand’s portfolio, Null Wines captures all of the excitement of a well-made wine. The current range spans a sparkling rose (made with Portugieser and Silvaner) to a juicier Tempranillo-Syrah blend. The newest iteration, a bright, sparkling verdejo, is particularly appealing. It’s great for toasts at parties or topping up a spritz, but I love the nuances on its own — it’s aromatic, bright, with a beautiful persistent fizziness.
The brand started with four SKUs: a juniper-forward gin for highly chuggable martinis, a tequila … [+]
Cut Above Spirits
One of the easiest non-alcoholic serves is the classics: a splash of (fake) rum and coke, easy G&Ts, or margaritas made with a more conscious option. Late last month, Andrew Solis launched Cut Above Spirits: a non-alcoholic spirits brand aimed to sub in for standard proof spirits. The brand started with four SKUs: a juniper-forward gin for highly chuggable martinis, a tequila riff, a mezcal alternative, and a whiskey (coming in December). They’re easy, breezy bottles for making your favorite cocktails a little less dizzying.