Celebrate With The Best Tasting 5 Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine Alternatives
Whether it’s to ring in the silly season with your mates, marking a momentous life occasion like bringing in all the groceries in one go, or putting on the ritz for an anniversary, nothing says celebration like bubbles. But we know all too well when the bubbles start flowing, things can easily get out of hand. To keep the good times flowing without any of the alcohol downsides, we’ve lined up the best non-alcoholic sparkling wine alternatives for you.
Non-alcoholic Champagne, sparkling wine, bubbles — what’s the difference?
First things first: let’s clear up the difference between Champagne, sparkling wine and how non-alcoholic Champagne alternatives fit into this blended family. Champagne, like Parmigiano-Reggiano, is a term that has Protected Designation of Origin. Basically, that means the authentic types in the EU have specified that only products produced in a specific part of the world can use the name.
For Parmigiano, that means anything not from the specific region of Italy is called parmesan. For bubbles, only wine produced in the Champagne region can be sold as Champagne — for non-alcoholic sparkling wines from Australia and other parts of the world, terms like Chardonnay, sparkling wine and Blanc de Blancs are used instead.
What does that mean for punters? Well, very little if you’re looking for a tasty drop. As you’ll come to realise from reading below, some truly delicious, complex and dry non-alcoholic sparkling wines can be found outside of the country that gave us Mbappé, brie and berets. At Craftzero, we tend to think if it looks like a Champagne and quacks like one, we’re going to use the terms interchangeably.
1. Next Destination 2021 Langhorne Creek Blanc de Blanc
We kick off our list with a non-alcoholic Champagne that’s Australian – sourced from premium Langhorne Creek vineyards. Next Destination Wines makes their wines with traditional methods and then removes the alcohol, giving you an authentic taste that’s right at home for any party.
The taste
This drop’s so bright you’ll want to wear shades. Get ready for notes of zingy lemon curd and citrus aromas, a hint of toasted brioche, spring blossom and crisp green apple.
Worth noting
This non-alcoholic sparkling wine is Australian, vegan and contains just 17 calories per 100ml. It’s no wonder we get it out when you need to pop a cork and celebrate with everyone and their mum.
Pair it with
With all those sweet, springtime notes, we reckon this one’s going to charm over any crowd when served with a cheese board and plenty of fresh, seasonal fruit.
What customers are saying
“The best non-alcoholic sparkling wine! I love the dry and crisp taste, many other sparkling whites are way too sweet or taste sour, but this one tastes like the real thing. Definitely ordering more for Christmas.”
“Absolutely lovely. You'd be hard pressed to tell it’s non-alcoholic. Great that it's Australian too...best Aussie non-alc bubbles we've found.”
2. Odd Bird Blanc de Blancs Sparkling White Wine
If you fancy yourself a little bit off the beaten path, you might just be an Odd Bird. This Swedish non-alcoholic wine maker blends traditional and innovative methods in their non-alcoholic wine making as only the Swedes can. This non-alcoholic sparkling wine is made with 100% Chardonnay from the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon.
The taste
Ever bitten into an apple fresh off a tree while standing in the orchard? This dry non-alcoholic sparkling wine gives us the clean taste of apple and lemon peel, with just a hint of honey from the nearby beehives and a whiff of almonds growing nearby.
Worth noting
This Swedish non-alcoholic Champagne alternative is also made from de-alcoholised wine, so it’s definitely a winner if you love the taste but hate the headache from traditional bubbles.
Pair it with
This dry, well rounded bubbly is great for cracking open while someone tearfully makes a toast, but we’re also keen on pairing it with fresh seafood – think oysters, scallops, prawns and maybe even a Nordic salmon dish.
What customers are saying
“This really is a great alternative to Champagne. Nice and dry and similar aroma to the ‘real thing’. Definitely not sparkling grape juice as some can be.”
“I am currently 192 days sober, thanks to Craftzero! I first received the Odd Bird Blanc de Blancs in my last sample pack and it has become my favourite non-alcoholic sparkling. It definitely doesn't taste like grape juice. So if you like sparkling, I highly recommend Odd Bird.”
3. Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay
Amanda Thomas, founder of Thomas and Scott Wines reckons "It doesn't have to be alcohol to be rock 'n' roll." We tend to agree. This cheeky de-alcoholised Chardonnay has all the fun of your favourite classic rock band, if they could still get up on stage and perform like they were 20.
The taste
There’s a great depth of flavour in this non-alcoholic Champagne made with Chardonnay grapes from the south of Spain. Crisp fruit notes hit you at first, but there’s also some subtler stuff going on and a good dryness that keeps everything from going full cordial sweet.
Worth noting
This is a certified organic, vegan and halal non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Tick, tick and tick!
Pair it with
Good company of course, but we’re also serving a glass of this alongside some classic Christmas party nibbles — think choc covered nuts, fruit mince pies and maybe even a cherry or two.
What customers are saying
“I have been a champers drinker for years! I have tried a few of the alcohol free varieties which were all awful...this one though! My oh my! I love it! Seriously this is the best one I have tried so far...really, really pleasant. Not sweet...very close to the real thing.”
“Very lovely to drink. My hubby and I were doing sober October and both enjoyed it as a great substitute. Definitely one of the best non-alcoholic sparkling wines we’ve had.”
4. Barton & Guestier Alcohol-Free Sparkling
Finally, we welcome a genuine Frenchman into our midst! This sophisticated gent is ready to do what a French non-alcoholic Champagne does best — pop with aplomb and mark the occasion in style.
The taste
There’s plenty of stone fruit to be found in this bubbly with notes of apricot and peach. Muscat grapes add some definite sweetness to the proceedings. Like a fizzy, bubbly guest that’s the life of the party.
Worth noting
All non-alcoholic Champagne does well being served cold, but this one in particular should be as icy cold as you can manage – between 5ºC and 6ºC.
Pair it with
This is the perfect aperitif drink to serve as guests arrive, or even to toast the night before you head out to a gig or live event. Serve in a Champagne flute with a corny Christmas cracker joke on the side.
What customers are saying
“This was my first foray into non-alcoholic sparkling wine for a long time – I'd been very disappointed by what was available in supermarkets and most bottle shops (sparkling grape juice!). This was the first bottle I tried in the box of six mixed sparklers and I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavour. It was fruity, but still had a slightly dry finish.”
“I quite enjoyed this, it opened with a lovely pop and the obligatory smoke expected of French bubbles. It is a soft flavour, fairly dry and easy to drink.”
5. Plus & Minus Blanc de Blancs
Out of South Australia’s wine region comes winemaker Corey Ryan’s non-alcoholic Champagne that’s sure to delight. And with no booze in sight, it’s all pluses from where we sit!
The taste
Bright without being one dimensional, sweet while maintaining a dry finish, this is what drinking Champagne should be. A classic, quaffable bubbly that is sure to please a crowd. One of the best non-alcoholic sparkling wines from Australia we’ve tried.
Worth noting
This dry non-alcoholic sparkling wine contains Chardonnay, sémillon and colombard varieties, all from Australian vineyards. Serve very chilled for best results.
Pair it with
We think this is the perfect non-alcoholic sparkling wine for Christmas day itself – serve it with a dash of orange juice alongside a breakfast of croissants, or on the Christmas dinner table with the whole spread.
What customers are saying
“All pluses. Plus Minus is a great no alcohol alternative for social events — it has a dry finish that is similar to a decent Champagne but with no guilt or hangovers, even when you wind up drinking a whole bottle. Highly recommended.”
“Crisp and cool. Really enjoyed this non-alcoholic Champagne alternative for our Christmas morning brunch. Served chilled, it is crisp and dry and the closest to the "real thing" I have ever had — this is a lovely drink.”
