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Top 10 low and no alcohol wines

21 December 2022 By Patrick Schmitt

While the current festive period isn’t a time for abstaining, some of our more forward-thinking readers may be planning ahead for a dry, or at least drier January. With that in mind we have selected the 10 best bottles from the Global Low and No Alcohol Wine Masters – the biggest competition of its type in the UK.

Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc

Producer: Brancott Estate
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 9%
Residual sugar: NA
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. retail price: £7.50
Medal: Gold

A good and typical Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – just with lower alcohol, and, as a result, a slightly lighter mouthfeel. That was the conclusion having tasted this 9% abv Savvy B from Brancott Estate, with its passion fruit, pear and elderflower notes, complemented by flavours of gooseberry and lemongrass, and fresh, citrusy edge. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

McGuigan 0.5% Rose

Producer: Mcguigan Wines
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Grape varieties:
ABV: 0.5%
Residual sugar: 40g/l
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £7
Medal: Gold

A bubblegum pink sparking rosé with no alcohol but plenty of sweetness to add weight to the wine, and lots of flavour too, with notes of juicy ripe fruit and some raisined characters too, followed by a fresh finish. Reminiscent of a fizzy Moscato, just without the abv. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Jacob’s Creek Better by Half Rose

Producer: Jacob’s Creek
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 42% Pinot Noir, 38% Mataro: 38, 20% Grenache
ABV: 5.5%
Residual sugar: 5g/l
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £12
Medal: Gold

An appealing salmon-pink, low-alcohol rosé with a subtle sweetness, red fruit and potpourri aromatics and plenty of jammy strawberry characters. There’s also a touch of fresh raspberry and blood orange on the finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Croft Pink Port & Tonic

Producer: Croft Port
Region: Douro Valley
Country: Portugal
Vintage: N/A
Grape varieties: 100% Touriga Nacional
ABV: 5.5%
Residual sugar: N/A
Approx. retail price: £2.50
Medal: Gold

A brightly-coloured fizzy drink that mixes the sweet ripe strawberry jam and raisin characters of Croft Pink Port with notes of fresh orange and grapefruit, along with zesty lemon peel, and then the bitter notes of quinine that are famously found in tonic. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Blanc Pur

Producer: Sketmamnufaktur Strauch
Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany
Vintage: NV
Grape varieties: 100% Riesling
ABV: <0.5%
Residual sugar: 4.5g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £13
Medal: Gold

An appealing alcohol-free sparkling Riesling with flavours of ripe apple and fresh grapes, a hint of petrol, and a delicate sweetness, followed by a fresh, clean finish, with a note of bitter lemon. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Hardys Zero Chardonnay

Producer: Accolade Wines
Region: Riverland
Country: Australia
Grape varieties: 90.3% Chardonnay, 5.1% Colombard, 3.4% Gordo, 1.8% Others
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 0.02%
Residual sugar: 16-20g/l
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. retail price: £7
Medal: Gold

Hardy’s was established by Thomas Hardy in the Barossa Valley in 1853 and has a world-renowned range of wines, perhaps the most notable the Eileen Hardy Chardonnay and Shiraz and the limited range of icon wines, only produced for special events, such as their 165^th Anniversary edition. Now owned and operated by Accolade Fine wines, the Hardy’s range winemaking team is led by Nigel Sneyd MW. Recently Accolade have added this lovely, no-alcohol, unoaked Chardonnay from grapes sourced in the Riverland. Pale lemon-green in colour, the wine shows yellow plum, yellow peach and white cherry fruit with hints of parsley and honey. Medium dry (16-20g/l residual sugar), the palate is light-bodied with zippy acidity supporting the flavours. There is good length. It’s an easy-drinking style that would work with lighter dishes: fish, white-sauced pastas or Thai or Cantonese Asian foods. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

Giesen Pure Light Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Producer: Giesen Group Ltd
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 99.82% Sauvignon Blanc, 0.11% Semillon
ABV: 6%
Residual sugar: 13g/l
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £10
Medal: Gold

An aromatic, low-alcohol Sauvignon Blanc with appealing notes of lemongrass and capsicum, and plenty of zesty grapefruit too. While the wine is slightly sweet, the finish is fresh and citrusy. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Sunlight Chardonnay

Producer: Oxford Landing
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 7%
Residual sugar: 11g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £8
Medal: Gold

A lower-alcohol, slightly sweet Chardonnay with an appealing mix of grilled nuts, struck matchstick, honeydew melon and beeswax, complemented by bright, palate-cleansing notes of green apple and lime zest. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Jacob’s Creek Dots Moscato White 2022

Producer: Jacob’s Creek Wines
Region: Australia
Country: Australia
Grape varieties: 100% Gordo
Abv: 7.5%
Residual sugar: 73g/l
Vintage: 2022
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. retail price: £8.99
Medal: Gold

In 1847 Johann Gramp began the great tradition of Jacob’s Creek wines, when he planted grapes along the banks of Jacob’s Creek in South Australia and established Gramp and Son’s winery. The large number of varieties varieties and vineyard sites allow Jacob’s Creek to continue the long-standing expertise and innovation, now bolstered by a sustainability drive. This low alcohol sweet wine (73g/l residual sugar) has a very pale silver-lime-leaf green hue with greengage, nettle, grass and orange blossom aromas. Slightly spritzy on the palate with a light body and zesty acidity along with lovely fruit and floral accents. A pretty wine with good length, the wine is suited to light desserts, such as Eton Mess or Lemon Cake, but would also work with young creamy cheeses, such as goat’s cheese or Camembert. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

Jacob’s Creek Dots Sparkling Moscato White

Producer: Jacob’s Creek
Country: Australia
Vintage: NV
Grape varieties: 100% Gordo (Muscat of Alexandria)
ABV: 7.5%
Residual sugar: 72g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £9
Medal: Gold

A delicious sparkling Moscato at a keen price, with floral, grapey aromatics and flavours of raisins and orange blossom, with plenty of mouth-filling sweetness, but also palate-cleansing, fine persistent bubbles and some lemon zest to further refresh. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

The medal-winners from The Global Low And No Alcohol Wine Masters

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Low No Alcohol Wine Masters provides a chance for your wines to star.

The 2022 competition was judged on 7 December at the Almas Room in The Hippodrome, London, employing experienced judges – who are pictured below. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result.

Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

Pictured below are the judges for The Global Low No Alcohol Wine Masters 2022.