The Best Wineries For Non-Alcoholic Wine & Verjus
Dry January is (finally) coming to a close. Maybe you participated this year or were simply influenced by those around you to drink less. Either way, it is likely that you stumbled upon some non-alcoholic wines – whether that be in a glass or just an ad.
Non-alcoholic wines are difficult to perfect. You might even be wondering… what’s the point?
Before you count them out entirely, give these 5 wineries a chance to change your mind. With these winemakers’ years of experience making award-winning wines, you can trust them to make a beautifully drinkable NA wine with all of the luxurious flavor and none of the alcohol.
Walla Walla, WA - Waterbrook Winery
“With a state-of-the-art winery, visitor center, and a nearby estate vineyard, Waterbrook has created a destination for wine lovers and simultaneously helped put Walla Walla wine on the world’s stage.”
Waterbrook proudly makes wine that is “what Washington tastes like” allowing you to experience the Pacific Northwest from anywhere on the map. Sold in many wine shops across the country, Waterbrook is a high quality and affordable choice, making your decision to go alcohol free that much tastier.
There are two varietals of Waterbook Clean – a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon. Cozy up with your favorite wine any time of day.
Dealcoholized Chardonnay presents fragrant aromas of fresh tree fruit, notes of Golden Delicious apple and local honey, finishing with hints of oak and vanilla. $18
Dealcoholized Cabernet Sauvignon boasts notes of black plum and dark cherry with bold oaky tannins, a dash of cocoa powder and black pepper on the finish. $20
Sagaponack, NY - Wölffer Estate
A bottle of bubbly rosé from Wölffer Estate transports you straight to summer in the Hamptons. This sustainable winery located in Sagaonack, New York has been making wine, ciders, and spirits since 1988.
Winter is cold and long, why not skip ahead a few months with Spring in a Bottle?
Wölffer offers 4 different brightly colored non-alcoholic options, reminding us that sober doesn’t equate to less fun.
Spring in a Bottle is an exquisite alcohol-free, low calorie, dry rosé sparkling wine. It is a perfect choice to have a fun filled evening, long lunch, afternoon entertaining at the pool, or long multi-course dinner. Beautiful and vibrant with great acidity and perfectly balanced by elegant fruitiness. $20
Wölffer Estate crafted their first verjus in 1966, making them one of the first wineries in the US to make one. They now offer both Verjus and Red Verjus. $12
Petite Rosé Verjus is a bright salmon rosé color with a shiny new copper hue. The fruit is pure with fresh pear and sweet peach as well as apple and hints of lemon. The mouth-feel is vibrant and light with nice balance between the fruit, natural sugar and bright acidity and a refreshing CO2 mousse. $42
Madison, VA - Revalation Vineyards
Revalation Vineyards is located on a scenic property in the Hebron Valley of Madison, Virginia. A rustic cabin, a wood-burning fireplace, and vast mountain views make this winery a great place to visit with friends of all drinking preferences. The winery serves their homemade award-winning verjus alongside the traditional wine list.
At Revelation Vineyards, they work to represent the central Virginia terroir through minimal intervention, small batch wines.
Revalaton Vineyards recommends mixing their verjus with sparkling water, or to simply drink it on its own over ice. They offer four different sizes in their tasting room and on their website.
Revelation Vineyards Verjus is non-alcoholic juice produced by pressing unripe Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Viognier grapes. The light acidity formed by the lower sugar content allows the juice to have a fresh, tart flavor that adds zest to sauces, dressings, and marinades, without overpowering other delicate aromas in the dish. It also makes an excellent spritzer. $8 -$32 depending on size.
They even have a page dedicated to their very own Verjus recipes.
California - Zilch Wines
From Precept winemaker Hal Landvoigt, comes another amazing winery – meet Zilch Wines. Zilch wines are made in California and based in Washington state. They offer two choices of champagne-inspired sparkling wine – Brut & Rosé.
Brut Bubbles showcases notes of fresh-pressed green apples, ripe pear flavors with a hint of honey and refreshing effervescence. $15
Pair with truffle popcorn, steak salads, butternut squash soup, or chicken and mushroom risotto.
Rosé Bubbles showcases notes of bright red fruits and ripe pear flavors with refreshing and crisp effervescence. $15
Pair with fig and walnut salad, prosciutto and burrata cauliflower pizza, or turkey and cranberry sandwiches.
They also offer a collection of fun mocktail recipes on their website.
San Luis Obispo, CA - Oceano Wines
Oceano Wines is dedicated to the art of winemaking, showcasing the distinct terroir of Spanish Springs Vineyard on the San Luis Obispo Coast. They believe that everybody deserves access to high-quality, luxurious wine – regardless of alcohol preference.
“Oceano Wines is dedicated to crafting exceptional, single-vineyard wines that embody both tradition and innovation. Our journey into the non-alcoholic realm began with the launch of the 2022 Oceano Zero Alcohol Removed Pinot Noir in October 2023, a pioneering step in the industry. This exquisite offering, which swiftly sold out by January 21, 2024, sets a new standard for non-alcoholic wines, both in terms of quality and luxury.” – Rachel Martin, Founder and CEO
While Oceano Zero has sadly sold out of their 2022 Pinot Noir (it was just that good) you can join the waiting list for their 2023 Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. ~$55
Be the first to try Oceano Zero’s new varietals this year.
Editor
Natalie is co-founder and editor of The Grapevine Magazine where she helps winemakers big and small tell their stories. She lives in Manhattan, New York City.
Great read!!!!!