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Looking to enjoy a glass of alcohol-free or low-alcohol wine with your meal? Thanks to some exciting new editions in our range, the choice has never been greater. Here are our top five alcohol-free wine and food pairings – including red, white, rosé and sparkling.
Discover your new favourite alcohol-free wine
When I tell people what I do for a living, the first thing they usually ask is: “so ... what’s your favourite wine?” I used to think that was a tough question, until someone asked me … “what’s your favourite alcohol-free wine?”
Until recently, I wouldn’t have been able to answer. There simply weren’t enough options to choose from. But pioneering alcohol-free wine producers like Oddbird and Wednesday’s Domaine are changing the game.
And judging by the rise in popularity of alcohol-free and low-alcohol wines in the UK, they’re on a winning ticket. According to Drinks Business Magazine, alcohol-free wine is the fastest-growing UK wine category, and a third of pub visits are now alcohol free.
The choice of alcohol-free wines has never been better
There are plenty of reasons for choosing alcohol-free wine. But whether you’re a designated driver, doing Dry January, or simply moderating your intake, one thing is clear: there is a better choice of alcohol-free wines today than ever. Check out our selection of alcohol-free and low-alcohol wines and we’re sure you’ll agree.
A bigger range means, of course, that the options for matching food and alcohol-free wine are better than ever, too. Here are some of my top recommendations for matching food with the alcohol-free and low-alcohol wines on our list.
Pairings ‘to dry for’ – our top 5 alcohol-free wine and food matches
1. Pairing food with alcohol-free reds: Wednesday’s Domaine Vignette
Finding a red wine that tastes just as good without the alcohol is a tough call – but Wednesday’s Domaine has done a superb job with Vignette. The secret? They’ve taken a juicy Spanish red, gently removed the alcohol, then blended in a handful of natural ingredients to lift body, flavour and length.
The result is a smooth, fruity alcohol-free red with dark black fruit and a touch of spice. Here are my top food suggestions:
Comfort food: Try it with quality bangers and mash to elevate an easy midweek supper. The rich fruit will really shine through.
Date night: If you’re looking to impress, pair this alcohol-free red with a homemade moussaka. The lift of spice will enhance the flavours of the lamb.
Cheese board: There’s enough bite in this alcohol-free red to stand up to a decent mature Cheddar – providing a luxurious end to your meal.
2. Pairing food with alcohol-free whites: Wednesday’s Domaine Piquant
Wednesday's Domaine has done another great job with their alcohol-free white, Domaine Piquant. Citrusy and refreshing, it'll appeal to fans of crisp, aromatic whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Albariño.
Mineral-fresh with citrus and herb notes, this is a great alcohol-free white to serve with fish dishes. Here are my top suggestions:
Comfort food: Try it fish and chips for a quick-and-easy supper. The lemony freshness will work perfectly with the crisp batter.
Date night: For a fool-proof option, go for herby foil-baked fish, with new potatoes and green beans. The wine’s aromas will blend beautifully with those of the fish.
Cheese board: The classic match for this would be a tangy goat’s cheese – and it does work very well. It’ll also pair nicely with Gouda or Comté.
3. Pairing food with alcohol-free rosé: Noughty Alcohol-free rosé
Along with alcohol-free wine, rosé is one of the fastest growing wine categories in the UK. So, it’s appropriate to include an alcohol-free rosé on this list. And in fact, it’s a style that works very well – as you’ll taste with this crisp South African rosé from Noughty.
Made with Chenin Blanc and just a splash of Pinotage for colour, it’s a very versatile style for food matching. Here are my top suggestions:
Comfort food: With its combination of freshness and red-berry fruit, Noughty Alcohol-free rosé goes beautifully with pizza or tomato-based pasta dishes, like lasagna.
Date night: One of my favourite date night dishes is grilled duck breast with a rich cherry sauce. This alcohol-free rosé would make a perfect match.
Cheese board: The great thing about rosé is that it is SO versatile – so you could pair Noughty Alcohol-free rosé with almost any cheese. My favourite? A nice gooey brie.
4. Pairing food with alcohol-free fizz: H! Barcelona alcohol-free sparkling white
Spain’s most famous fizz, Cava, is enjoying a surge in popularity now – and rightly so, as it’s excellent value. Made in the same way as Champagne, it has lovely fine bubbles, combined with green apple and tropical fruit.
Made by one of Barcelona’s most experienced Cava producers, H! Barcelona alcohol-free sparkling is clean, bright and quaffable – and great with food. Here are my top suggestions:
Comfort food: This alcohol-free Cava works really well with sauced fish dishes and white meats. Try with a rich fish pie for a comforting treat.
Date night: Looking to impress? Why not go Spanish? Start with a selection of tapas dishes, then bring out the seafood paella. Extra effort – but worth it.
Cheese board: Cava works well with milder flavoured cheeses, such as a young brie or a mild cheddar. Or if you’re sticking with Spanish – Manchego.
5. Matching food with alcohol-free sparkling rosé: Oddbird alcohol-free Sparkling rosé
This alcohol-free sparkling rosé comes from Swedish alcohol-free pioneers, Oddbird, whose mission is to make the question, “would you like your wine with or without alcohol?” as common as “would you like your coffee with or without milk?”.
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (the same grapes used for rosé Champagne) it's a vibrant, fruit-filled pink fizz. Here are my top food matching suggestions:
Comfort food: With its freshness, fine bubbles and red berry fruit, Oddbird alcohol-free Sparkling rosé is a great match for simple grilled lamb chops.
Date night: Good pink bubbly is a surprisingly good match for fatty red meats. I enjoyed this with one of my all-time favourites – braised lamb shanks with mashed potatoes.
Cheese board: You can go for slightly stronger flavoured cheese with this one. Try with a mature Camembert of a washed rind cheese like Taleggio.
Revealed! My favourite alcohol-free wine …
I just realised that I forgot to answer the question at the start of this article: “what’s your favourite alcohol-freewine?” Well, I have to say, after trying all these examples, I’m spoiled for choice. But if forced to pick, I’ll go for the H! Barcelona alcohol-free Cava. With its citrus, floral and green apple notes, it’s a great alternative to alcoholic sparkling wine, and equally good with or without food.
About the author
Chris Larkin
A seasoned copywriter with over two decades experience, Chris has been part of the team since 2021. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find him either working on our latest catalogue or creating informative content for our website. Qualified to WSET Level 3 Wine, Chris is as geeky about wine as he is about copywriting. But when it comes to choosing a special bottle, he is a traditionalist, and loves a good Bordeaux or Mâcon Chardonnay.
