What to Drink When You're Not Drinking

Taking a break from booze after the festive season? Then keep reading! Rather predictably for this month, we are focusing on no & low alcohol options. I had nine whole months to test out all of the non-alcoholic drinks offerings whilst pregnant last year so I’m here to share my favourite options for what to drink when you’re not drinking!

Let’s start with a difficult truth for a wine lover…most non-alcoholic wines are terrible. They are de-alcoholised, which is what usually gives wine its body and structure. Take that away and you are left with…not very much. Unfortunately many producers of non-alcoholic wines tend to add sugar to replace the body lost by removing alcohol. The best white wine I found was Eins Zwei Zero, a German riesling which does have some sweetness, but that’s what you’d expect from the style anyway and it is balanced by a refreshing acidity. Goes great with slightly spicy dishes such as Thai stir fries or curries and also Chinese food.

Reds are trickier to get right when removing the alcohol as body is more integral to the style. Here  I would seek out something a little off the beaten track. Oddbird are a Swedish social enterprise who offer alcohol-free wines, which they refer to as being “liberated” from alcohol. Their organic red wine is a blend of merlot and shiraz from France, with blackberry, cherry & plum flavours and a hint of spice. Top tip – chill the bottle down before drinking to make the most of the flavours. Just don’t expect it to taste the same as a full-bodied Aussie shiraz!

Non-alcoholic sparkling options are a bit easier on the palate because of their refreshing effervescence. One option is the Noughty range by Thomson & Scott, the white sparkling is a non-alcoholic dry style made from Chardonnay grapes which is organic and vegan-friendly. They also offset the carbon footprint of every purchase so you can feel good about helping the planet whilst enjoying your fizz! . My favourite was Fizzero from M&S, which is not actually wine but sparkling grape juice blended with green tea. The green tea gives the drink some body and a bit of tannin which helps with the texture and was one of the driest examples that I found. It comes in a white and rose format (but the rose is much sweeter!)

Whilst we’re on the subject of tea, a good quality kombucha can be a delicious grown-up feeling drink if you’re sick of drinking sparkling water. We’re not talking about the home-brewed stuff here!  The Royal Flush from The Real Drinks Company is a sparkling non-alcoholic drink made with the highest-quality Darjeeling tea leaves, which are fermented to give it flavour and complexity. They come in aluminium cans as well, providing the perfect individual serve when poured into a Champagne flute.

Craving a G&T? There has been a real boom of non-alcoholic spirits on the market in recent years. They do tend to be pricey as they are often made in the same way as your typical liquor but the alcohol is allowed to evaporate. A delicious option is Seedlip Grove 42, very similar to a citrus-based gin, with flavours of orange, lemon peel and lemongrass. Serve with tonic, plenty of ice and a slice of orange and you can almost imagine you’re having gin. These non-alcoholic spirits also work really well in mocktails, check out the Seedlip website for some recipe ideas.

Four hangover-free alternatives...

Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Alcohol-Free Riesling, Waitrose, £6.99

This is full of fresh flavour and hints of citrus and yellow stone fruits. It’s well suited to a range of dishes including seafood and fish, as well as being an excellent party wine or apéritif.

Fizzero, Marks & Spencer, £4.75

A refreshing and balanced alcohol-free sparkling wine with flavours of apple and pear. Made using a unique recipe involving a special fermentation which ensures it tastes like wine and not like a soft drink. Green tea is added to give it a round mouthfeel.

Seedlip Grove 42 Alchohol-Free Spirit, Harvey Nichols, £29

A zesty and citrusy blend of copper-pot distillates, including orange, blood orange, mandarin, lemon, ginger and lemongrass. It’s crafted in a similar manner to a gin, just without the alcohol – and no added sugar or sweeteners.

Royal Flush Sparkling Tea, The Real Drinks Company, £35 for a case of 12 cans

Fragrant and fresh on the nose with notes of stone fruits and juicy blackcurrants. Delicately acidic on the palate with flavours of rhubarb, peach, and a hint of spice.