When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner’s variety of flavors, there’s no need to fight. It’s better to find a simple way to complement them. This year, a nonalcoholic white or red still wine, or both, would be up for the challenge. The quality of these wines continues to improve, offering a range of well-made, enjoyable options that pair well with food. With prices ranging from $15 to $40, they are comparable to good bottles of wine.
After tasting many nonalcoholic still wines, I prefer varietals or varietal blends that start as wine and then have the alcohol removed, rather than attempts to mimic wine using tea or herbs. Well-made white wines without alcohol, like their alcoholic counterparts, have lively acidity and minerality, making them more appealing than reds, which often lack tannins and complexity. Most of these wines, including the reds, benefit from being chilled.
Unlike vintage Pauillac, you don’t have to worry about the quality of opened bottles of nonalcoholic wine eroding over a few days or a week. If you’re looking for sparklers to toast with, there are many fine celebratory options in both white and rosé. The carbonation in these wines helps compensate for the absence of alcohol’s bite.
When it comes to finding nonalcoholic wines, many wine shops do not sell them. However, you can often find them in grocery and beverage markets. There are also online and brick-and-mortar retailers, such as Boisson and Better Rhodes, that specialize in nonalcoholic wines. It’s important to note that the rules and regulations for selling nonalcoholic wines vary by state. Most of these wines have their own websites and can be purchased online, but delivery may take up to a week.
White Wine
İçerik Tablosu
Geisen Nonalcoholic Pinot Grigio, $15.99, betterrhodes.com: This New Zealand pinot grigio from a well-established winery offers a nice minerality with hints of citrus and kiwi.
Lautus Chardonnay, $20, boisson.co: This South African chardonnay is one of the few nonalcoholic options on the market. It has good body, elegance, and balance, making it more substantial than many other white wines in its category. It pairs well with a rich dinner.
Leitz Ein Zwei Zero Riesling, $18, boisson.co: Nonalcoholic wines from Germany are highly regarded, and this one can be found on top restaurant lists. It offers a piquant and lively taste with hints of white peach and a pleasant touch of fizz. It can be enjoyed from start to finish, including with dessert.
Sovi Chenin Blanc, $34, drinksovi.com: This unusual contender from California delivers restrained fruit flavors of Bosc pear and tart green grapes.
Studio Null Grüner Weiss, $32, nullwines.com: This pale wine is a blend of grüner veltliner and gelber muskateller from Austria, vinified in Germany. It has herbal notes and tartness, softened by flavors of tropical fruit. It pairs well with dishes like butternut squash soup.
Red Wine
Leitz Ein Zwei Zero Pinot Noir, $20, boisson.co: This German pinot noir has a ruby tone with hints of red plum and offers some depth and complexity.
Studio Null Solo Garnacha, $34, nullwines.com: This wine, made from Spanish grapes, has an earthy flavor with notes of plums. It’s not sweet and has appealing minerality.
Sovi Reserve Red, $38, drinksovi.com: This California blend is slightly sweet but rich, with some tannic heft. While it may be one-dimensional, it pairs well with most Thanksgiving menus.