9 best low-alcohol wines to enjoy without the hangover

If you’ve ever tried a low-alcohol white wine that tastes like children’s fruit juice, you might have presumed dodging alcohol always meant teeth-rotting sweetness. Cognato was set up by cousins David Sommestad and Adam Malmnäs, who wanted to make low-alcohol wines that could be enjoyed with food in the same way ordinary wine can. They now produce a red, rosé and white, all made with grapes from coastal South Africa and with far lower sugar content than most other de-alcoholised wines – 2g per 100ml, in the case of this white, compared with some others with more than 4g. As well as being delightfully drinkable, the entire range is also Fairtrade certified, ensuring fair and sustainable working conditions for all involved in the production of the wine. It’s surprisingly dry too, with crisp citrus flavours and a fresh grassy note that would make this ideal with summery salads or light fish dishes. An alcohol-free revelation.

It always feels like a treat to pop the cork on fizz, even if there’s no alcohol in your glass. This well-priced Asda bubbly is an excellent replacement for the real stuff. It’s made with dealcoholised and carbonated sauvignon blanc grown in Spain. Though it’s a touch sweeter than regular bubbly, its fresh fruity flavours go down a treat for a toast or with Asian dishes, such as stir-fries or even mild curries. Serve super-chilled to savour the zesty lime, lemon and gooseberry flavours at their best.

Award-winning Southwold-based brewer and wine merchant Adnams is already a fail-safe name when it comes to reliably excellent vino. So we were delighted to discover it’s turned its hand to low-alcohol alternatives, and this juicy red doesn’t disappoint. Made from a mix of cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo grapes from Spain, it has all you’d expect from a dry, fruity red but with the alcohol removed via spinning cone technology. There’s juicy blackberry notes, a touch of spice and a decently dry finish that doesn’t leave you feeling like you need to brush your teeth. Serve alongside a classic margherita pizza or even a tomato-based stew for a match made in red wine heaven.

We’re a sucker for a cold glass of rosé with a barbeque on a summer’s day, but we don’t always want the alcohol that comes with it. This well-priced alternative is a fantastic option to see us through summer without the booze, and the sweetness of rosé lends itself particularly well to an almost alcohol-free version.

Made with sun-ripened grapes from central Spain, it’s exceptionally fruity and packed with ripe strawberry flavours that taste like sunshine in a glass. Though it will definitely be too sweet for some, anyone who prefers an easy-drinking grenache rosé to a more delicate provençal will love every drop.

If sauvignon blanc is your go-to white, it’s possible to still enjoy a glass (or three) while avoiding alcohol. Happily, even the bottle this comes in looks more like ordinary wine than glorified grape juice, and we’d have no problem leaving it out on the dinner table.

A smooth white wonder, it has all the hallmarks of a decent savvy B, including refreshing tropical fruit flavours, a bright acidity and a long-lasting finish that makes this perfect to drink on its own. We’d also open a bottle with a seafood platter for a real alcohol-free feast.

With so little alcohol, it’s virtually booze free, so this is a fantastic choice for drivers or anyone wanting to cut alcohol as much as possible without sacrificing flavour. This sparkling rosé has a lively fizz and a delicate salmon-pink colour in the glass, and it brims with red fruit flavours that would go down a storm served chilled on a summer’s day. It’s definitely on the sweeter side, so would be better enjoyed alone as an aperitif rather than with meals, but could also work well with a fruit salad or vegetable crudités. We also rate the honey and apple tang of iHeart Zero sparkling white (£2.95, Slurp.co.uk), if you’d rather swerve the pink stuff.

When we’re skipping alcohol, we miss enjoying a good glass of red with food most of all. Without the complexity and mouthfeel provided by alcohol, it’s very difficult to adequately replicate a red, yet this is a decent attempt that works well alongside classic made-for-red food, including roast meat and even a cheese plate. A deep ruby red in the glass, it has layered notes of blackcurrant, cherry and red fruit with smooth tannins and a long finish. We’re also fans of the Bon Voyage alcohol-free sauvignon blanc (£6.99, Clickndrink.co.uk) when only white will do.

If you’re swerving the alcohol, it can feel hard to join in with celebrations when everyone else is drinking. Bring along a bottle of this alcohol-free sparkling from Sainsbury’s and you can toast along with everyone else – one friend we gave it to didn’t even realise it was booze-free until we told them. Better still, it looks the part too, with a wire cage and gold foil over the cork, so you can pop it just like ordinary bubbly. Like some champagnes, it also states the fact it’s a blanc de blanc on the label – that is, made exclusively from white grapes such as chardonnay – which makes this bottle feel even more special. It’s as nicely crisp as you’d expect, too, with plenty of long-lasting bubbles and a tang of apple that cuts through the sweetness.

The world can’t get enough of prosecco, so it’s no surprise alcohol-free versions have become big business too. Nozeco is one of the best-known alternatives and would certainly work well at a party or served alongside canapés. It’s dryer than many other sparkling alcohol-free wines we tasted, and brims with fine bubbles that last beyond the first sip. The well-balanced blend of apple, citrus and elderflower flavours makes this a lovely, refreshing choice that would work perfectly in fizz-based cocktails such as bellinis. Just be warned it is fairly high in sugar – at 5g per 100ml – so it’s probably best to enjoy just a couple of glasses.