I drank five alcohol-free sparkling wines for Dry January — one just made my eyes roll

Non-alcoholic drinks are the future. That’s been my mantra and I’ve been sharing it with anyone who’ll listen during Dry January.

The public health initiative was first launched by Alcohol Change UK in 2013. This year, it’s estimated that a whopping 15.5 million individuals are participating. As a veteran of several Dry Januaries, I can attest to the benefits, including enhanced sleep quality and overall wellbeing.

While non-alcoholic drink sales typically spike in January as we all set new objectives, there’s been a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour over recent years towards reducing or completely eliminating alcohol consumption.

Consequently, the no- and low-alcohol sector is thriving. Brands and supermarkets are now offering a wide array of options, dedicating entire sections to low-ABV beers, dealcoholised Champagnes, and alcohol-free canned cocktails, rather than treating them as an afterthought, reports .

In the UK, drinks are classified as alcohol-free if they have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 0.05% or less, while those with an ABV of 1.2% or less are considered low-alcohol. Drinks with 0.5% or less are categorised as dealcoholised.

Brewers are at the forefront of creating low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beers that closely resemble their alcoholic counterparts. This means that for those who enjoy a chilled beer while watching TV or socialising with friends, the experience remains largely unchanged, minus the intoxicating effects and subsequent hangover.

However, beer isn’t everyone’s preferred tipple. For many, a glass of wine is more appealing when dining out or enjoying drinks with friends. Alcohol-free wines are typically produced by either omitting alcohol entirely or removing it at the final stage. However, replicating the flavour, texture and depth of a good glass of wine without alcohol has proven more challenging than with beer.

If you’re seeking an alcohol-free option that closely resembles your usual choice, a sweeter wine or non-alcoholic bubbly, which offers a similar texture, could be your best bet for mimicking the experience and flavours of sparkling wine.

Non-alcoholic sparkling wines and Champagnes are currently in abundance, resulting in a vast array of options on supermarket shelves. Available at various price points, some are produced like traditional Champagne and then dealcoholised, while others are made from fruit teas or blended fruit juices.

I went on a tasting journey with various sparkling wines, including both classic and rose variants. The prices ranged from £3.25 to £8.99, with other non-alcoholic and low-alcohol alternatives available at both lower and higher price points.

Here’s what I sampled:

• Nozeco Special Edition Rose Fine Sparkling – £3.25 – vegan-friendly, 0.5% ABV
• Codorniu Zero, Alcohol Free Sparkling Wine – £5 – gluten-free and suitable for vegans, 0% ABV
• Freixenet 0.0% Alcohol Free Rose – £4.50 – suitable for vegans and vegetarians, 0% ABV
• Kylie Minogue 0% Sparkling Blanc – £6 – vegetarian-friendly, 0% ABV
• Zeno Alcohol-Liberated Sparkling – £8.99 – 0.3% ABV

The testing method was simple. One evening after work, I ventured into a supermarket and awkwardly gathered five bottles of fizz under my arm. It may have looked like I was gearing up for a wild party or drowning my sorrows but the reality was far less dramatic as I headed home for a taste test.

Joined by three other tasters, we evaluated the wines just as we would any other – based on aroma and taste, acidity, finish, and mouthfeel. We were also keen to see if each sparkling wine gave us the sensation of drinking a regular, alcoholic wine. Let’s just say, some fell short of the mark.

Given more time, it would have been interesting to pair each wine with a variety of dishes to gauge their compatibility and balance. However, a quick online search before buying often provides useful suggestions on what food pairs well with the chosen wine. Here are the verdicts.

Nozeco Special Edition Rose Fine Sparkling – £3.25 – vegan-friendly, 0.5% ABV

Despite sounding like a corny joke when pronounced aloud, Nozeco is a prominent player in the low- and no-alcohol wine market, producing wines from alcohol-removed grapes. This rose variant hails from France’s Bordeaux region and boasts a sweet, floral scent with a hint of fresh apple, complemented by an appealing classic rose hue.

However, our panel found its taste more reminiscent of a high-quality rose lemonade than actual rose wine. While I wouldn’t be in a hurry to repurchase, others in the group considered it a decent and budget-friendly choice.

Score: 3/5

Codorniu Zero, Alcohol Free Sparkling Wine – £5 – gluten-free and suitable for vegans, 0% ABV

This de-alcoholised sparkling Chardonnay was a hit with our group. Bursting with sweet tropical fruit flavours, along with apple and hints of honey, it offered a sweet yet mellow taste. Its gentle fizz gave the impression of sipping on the real deal, impressing us with its smooth mouthfeel and bubbles akin to a fresh, crisp sparkling cider.

Rating: 4/5

Freixenet 0.0% Alcohol Free Rose – £4.50 – suitable for vegans and vegetarians, 0% ABV

Much like the sparkling rose before it, this beverage divided our tasting panel. Initial impressions were of a sharpness and an absence of any distinct flavour. Instead of the expected crisp apple and zesty citrus notes, we found it rather bland and lacking in body. That said, the effervescence and acidity did give the illusion of drinking alcohol, which could be a plus point for some.

According to the tasting notes, one should detect wild berry and tropical fruit flavours, but sadly, this drink fell short of delivering on that promise.

Rating: 2/5

Kylie Minogue 0% Sparkling Blanc – £6 – suitable for vegetarians, 0% ABV

Pop star turned vintner Kylie Minogue has amassed quite a collection of wines, including this non-alcoholic offering. The pink-topped cork adds a charming touch, but it won’t distract our discerning testers from their mission.

With fermented grape juice and hand-selected green tea, this wine boasts plenty of floral and apple notes, and it has a lovely golden colour. On the nose, it initially reminded me of a diffuser or potpourri, but once you get past that, it presents as a rather refined and sophisticated alcohol-free option.

Rating: 3.5/5

Zeno Alcohol-Liberated Sparkling – £8.99 – 0.3% ABV

While the tagline ‘Alcohol Liberated NV’ may be a marketing gimmick, it does make me cringe. I’m all for the low- and no-alcohol category having some fun, but this made my eyes roll. However, not one to judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a bottle by its label, I decided to give it a go. This beverage is made from Macabeo grapes in Spain and offers hints of apple and lemon on the nose.

The taste profile includes a blend of citrus flavours and something reminiscent of brioche or even gummy bears. It’s crisp and refreshing, albeit a tad acidic for some tastes. Nonetheless, it comes closest to giving the sensation of sipping an alcoholic drink.

Score: 4/5