Five non-alcoholic wines have earned a ‘recommended’ status from some of New Zealand’s top wine judges. At this year’s New World Wine Awards, judges were impressed by the selection and quality of non-alcoholic entries.
Alcohol-free alternative wines are now in the winning Top 50 under 25 dollars. A panel of 17 wine experts tasted a wide range of wines under 0.5 percent ABV, evaluating their strength alongside regular wines to determine their performance. Winning wines included Ara Zero Sauvignon Blanc, McGuigan ZERO Rosé, Edenvale Sparkling Cuvée, Veuve du Vernay Zero, and Giesen 0% Merlot.
Mary-Therese Blair, wine writer, judge, and champion for low and no alcohol options, joined the New World Wine Awards independent judging panel. With the range and variety that entered the competition, Blair was impressed with the quality of customers’ options, ideal for those wanting to abstain on a single or long-term occasion.
“When it comes to non-alcoholic wine, the gold standard is to find an example that has everything you would want in your favourite full-bodied wine. I am super excited to say that the recommended drops meet that expectation.”
Blair detailed that the Ara Zero Sauvignon Blanc has layers of citrus, tropical flavours, and passionfruit, all on a crisp palate – a perfect representation of Marlborough Sauvignon without the alcohol.
In colour reminiscent of this season’s trending negroni cocktail, McGuigan’s ZERO Rosé delivers strawberry and pear flavours with a slight hint of spritz. “Just add friends, a platter, and sunshine with this one,” suggested Blair.
Experts were pleased with the selection of non-alcoholic sparkling wines, with Australian-Made Edenvale Sparkling Cuvée and French-Crafted Veuve du Vernay Zero taking the lead. Blair explained Edenvale as a perfect addition for the festive season, and the Veuve can satisfy those looking for a vegan-friendly and organic option.
For red wine lovers, the team discovered a rare red that showed the same tasty characteristics as its full-bodied counterparts. The Giesen 0% Merlot is a well-rounded, fruit-forward wine with the right taste and texture balance to go with creamy pasta.
For the festive season ahead, customers can expect a variety of top-quality, non-alcoholic wines that can satisfy their tastes.
