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Let’s be honest. Most non-alcoholic wine has a reputation slightly worse than aeroplane coffee. But the category has grown up fast, and some Australian producers are now making zero-alcohol drinks we would happily pour for guests. No pity pours required.
Dry July, designated driver, pregnant, or just keen on a clear head tomorrow: here are the bottles that pass the Giggly Grapes taste test.
Our verdict (for the impatient)
🏆 Best overall: Altina sparkling range. Delicate, dry, properly grown-up bubbles. Made in Australia Check today's price →
🍷 Best red: Wolf Blass Zero Shiraz. Real South Australian Shiraz character, low sugar Check today's price →
💪 Best for red wine diehards: Plus and Minus range. The most tannic, proper-red feel of the zero-alc bunch Check today's price →
🥂 Best sparkling: Tempus Two Zero Prosecco. Citrus, pear and bubbles that last. Christmas sorted Check today's price →
Table of Contents
First, how is non-alcoholic wine made?
Most zero-alcohol wines start life as normal wine, then have the alcohol removed gently, usually by vacuum distillation or spinning cone. Some, like Altina’s creations, are built from scratch with botanicals and fruit instead. Both approaches can work. What matters is the glass in front of you. The proper name for the process is dealcoholisation, and the International Organisation of Vine and Wine sets the rules for what a winemaker may call the result. In Australia, Food Standards Australia New Zealand makes any drink at 0.5 per cent alcohol or more state its strength and its standard drinks on the label, which is why a bottle marked 0.5 per cent is not the same thing as one marked 0.0 per cent.
One honest note: alcohol carries flavour and body, so zero-alc wine will never be identical to the real thing. The good ones get surprisingly close, and the great ones stop you caring.
1. Altina Drinks: best overall
Altina Drinks sparkling range
Canberra-based Altina makes award-winning alcohol-free drinks that do not pretend to be something they are not. Their sparkling range is the star: delicate, dry, and smooth, with lovely aromatics. These are drinks designed for a wine glass and a proper occasion.
- Australian made
- Genuinely dry, not sugary
- Beautiful bottles that gift well
- Vegan and low sugar
- Not trying to mimic specific wine styles
2. Wolf Blass Zero Shiraz: best red
Wolf Blass Zero Shiraz
Wolf Blass has been making Shiraz since 1966, and the Zero version starts life as a proper South Australian red before the alcohol comes out. You get red fruit, a little dark plum and a flick of white pepper, with less sugar than most of the category. It is the bottle to open when someone at the table says zero-alc reds all taste like cordial. Under 0.5% alcohol. Curious why some of these taste sweeter than others? Read our guide to residual sugar in wine.
- A name every Australian knows
- South Australian fruit, gently dealcoholised
- Low sugar and low calorie
- Under $14 a bottle
- Medium bodied, so do not expect a full-strength Barossa wallop
- Only the single bottle was in stock when we checked
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Send me the e-book →3. Plus & Minus: best for red wine diehards
Plus & Minus range
Plus & Minus adds grape seed extract to boost antioxidants, and their reds have the most tannic grip of anything we tasted. If your complaint about zero-alc reds is that they all taste like juice, start here.
- Proper dry, tannic structure
- Added antioxidants
- Full range from Prosecco-style to Shiraz
- That tannic dryness can surprise people expecting soft and sweet
4. Tempus Two Zero Prosecco: best sparkling
Tempus Two Zero Prosecco
Tempus Two is an Australian winery with a long track record, and their alcohol-free Prosecco is the one we would put on the table at Christmas when half the room is driving. Citrus and pear on the nose, a zesty palate, and bubbles that hold up in the glass rather than vanishing in a minute. It is a touch sweeter than a dry Prosecco, which is the trade-off across the whole category. Under 0.5% alcohol.
- Australian made and vegan
- Fresh citrus and pear, lively bubbles
- Looks the part on a Christmas table
- About $15 a bottle
- Sweeter than a dry brut, as most zero-alc fizz is
The calorie bonus
Here is a happy side effect: removing the alcohol removes most of the calories. A standard glass of red is about 125 kcal; most zero-alc wines land around 15 to 30 kcal a glass. Plug your own numbers into our Wine Calorie Calculator and prepare to feel smug.
Frequently asked questions
Is non-alcoholic wine completely alcohol free?
Usually not. Most contain under 0.5% ABV, about the same as a very ripe banana. Truly 0.0% options exist and are labelled as such. If you are avoiding alcohol entirely, for pregnancy or any other reason, check the label and ask your doctor what is right for you.
Why is non-alcoholic wine not cheaper than wine?
Because it is normal wine plus an extra process. Removing alcohol costs money. Annoying but true.
How should I serve it?
Exactly like wine. Right glass, right temperature. Treat it well and it tastes better, treat it like cordial and it tastes like cordial.
Does it need an excuse?
Never. Though if you want one anyway, we keep a full list of excuses to open a bottle, and every single one works alcohol-free.
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