Christmas party season has arrived but that doesn't have to mean knocking back the booze. A YouGov survey earlier this year revealed that 44% of 18- to 24-year-olds occasionally or regularly order low or non-alcoholic drinks, with 39% drinking no alcohol at all.
And the consequent surge in demand for low-booze or booze-free drinks has seen a slew of bubbly producers coming up with sophisticated fizz that tastes almost identical to the real thing. With so much choice, we've compiled a list of non-alcoholic sparkling wines that will get you into the festive mood – without the killer hangover.
Oddbird Blanc de Blancs
Swedish brand Oddbird uses chardonnay and colombard grapes to craft this "exceptional" booze-free fizz in France, said Anne Shooter in The Times. The sparkling wine is matured for 12 months before it's "liberated" from alcohol. Expect "mouth-puckering acidity", a "fresh and smooth" feel, and a "frothy head like real champagne".
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
£7.50, trade.proofdrinks.com
Community.Co zero alcohol sparkling white
"We were pleasantly surprised by this bubbly alternative to prosecco", said Siobhan Grogan at The Independent. Made with sparkling fermented grape juice and green tea, it's a "most drinkable" booze-free option, and is packed with notes of pear and apple blossom, giving it a "refreshing feel".
£5.50, alchemywines.co.uk
French Bloom 0.0% Le Rosé
French Bloom's alcohol-free sparkling rosé "fits the bill for a celebratory occasion", said Sophia Longi in The Guardian. Made from organic chardonnay and pinot noir grapes, it has delicate notes of "fresh red berries and crisp Pink Lady apples". The bubbles provide a "creamy texture" and "pleasant, lingering finish", while the "fancy packaging" makes it feel extra special.
£34, uk.frenchbloom.com
Wild Idol alcohol free sparkling wine
With its "proper champagne-style bottle", "straw colour" and "frothy mouthfeel", this is very close to real fizz, said Shooter in The Times. It's little wonder Wild Idol is served at the Dorchester – one of London's fanciest hotels: "this feels like a luxury product".
£30.99, selfridges.co.uk
Della vite zero
Famous sisters Chloe, Poppy and Cara Delevingne teamed up with a third-generation wine-making family in Italy to launch their vegan prosecco brand back in 2020. Their new non-alcoholic rosé version "proves you don't need to skimp on flavour just because you've cut out booze", said Grogan in The Independent. "Juicy" notes of cherries and red apples are expertly balanced, and the "mercifully low sugar content" gives it a "clean mouthfeel".
£14, dellavite.com
-
Why is the Trump administration talking about ‘Western civilization’?Talking Points Rubio says Europe, US bonded by religion and ancestry
-
Quentin Deranque: a student’s death energizes the French far rightIN THE SPOTLIGHT Reactions to the violent killing of an ultraconservative activist offer a glimpse at the culture wars roiling France ahead of next year’s elections
-
Secured vs. unsecured loans: how do they differ and which is better?the explainer They are distinguished by the level of risk and the inclusion of collateral
-
All mixed up: the year ahead in cocktail and bar trendsthe week recommends It’s hojicha vs. matcha, plus a whole lot more
-
Travel for all: 6 of the world’s most accessible destinationsThe Week Recommends Experience all of Berlin, Singapore and Sydney
-
The 8 best TV shows of the 1960sThe Week Recommends The standout shows of this decade take viewers from outer space to the Wild West
-
The year’s ‘it’ vegetable is a versatile, economical wonderthe week recommends How to think about thinking about cabbage
-
The biggest box office flops of the 21st centuryin depth Unnecessary remakes and turgid, expensive CGI-fests highlight this list of these most notorious box-office losers
-
Mail incoming: 9 well-made products to jazz up your letters and cardsThe Week Recommends Get the write stuff
-
The 8 best superhero movies of all timethe week recommends A genre that now dominates studio filmmaking once struggled to get anyone to take it seriously
-
One great cookbook: Joshua McFadden’s ‘Six Seasons of Pasta’the week recommends The pasta you know and love. But ever so much better.
