Taste Test: Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wines

When the time comes to raise a glass of something festive and fizzy, alcohol-free options abound. The caliber of many widely available NA sparkling wines has improved dramatically in recent years, making it easier than ever to pop bottles everyone can enjoy. These 10 keep things merry and bright all winter long.

French Bloom Le Rosé

Pale salmon in the glass, this lively rosé is organic and vegan, and contains no added sugar or sulfites. It has the most wine-centric nose of the bottles we tasted, with white grape juice and tart lemon rind followed by faint floral and red berry notes. Expect tart citrus plus more grape juice flavors and a long finish with lots of bright acidity. $44, us.frenchbloom.com

Proxies Gold Crush

An aromatic offering from an NA wine producer favored by somms at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, Gold Crush bursts with notes of peach, pineapple, and white tea. Bright and medium-bodied, it has fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juice flavors balanced by a hint of black tea leaves. It makes a great aperitif wine, but you could also drink it alongside fried chicken, roasted root veggies, and more. $25, drinkproxies.com

Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay

This dealcoholized wine is worthy of a special occasion, but not too precious to open on a run-of-the-mill Wednesday. Made with 100 percent Chardonnay grapes, it contains very little sugar—just 2.9 grams per 100 ml—and has Granny Smith apple and citrus flavors. The winemaker offsets the carbon footprint of each bottle through a partnership with Treepoints. $22, us.noughtyaf.com

Unified Ferments Rhododendron

Wild-harvested rhododendron tea leaves from Quebec give this bright and balanced wine alternative an elegant, herbaceous undertone. There are also pear, juniper, and stony notes, followed by a tannic finish that wraps things up nicely. Pair this stunner with shellfish, hearty winter salads, or anything you might find on a charcuterie board. $29, unifiedferments.com

Oddbird Blanc de Blancs

Founded in 2013, this Scandinavian brand creates dealcoholized, minimal-intervention wines in chicly minimalist bottles. The tart blanc de blancs is a standout. Made with Chardonnay and Colombard grapes from France’s Languedoc region, the wine ages for 12 months before release. It’s redolent with honeysuckle, green apple, lime juice, and lemon rind notes, plus a whisper of toasted almonds on the finish. $24.99, thezeroproof.com

Wölffer Estate Spring in a Bottle Blanc de Blancs

A collaboration between New York’s popular Wölffer Estate and a winery in Mosel, Germany, this alcohol-removed sparkler has lemongrass, melon, green apple, and white tea notes. Ample acidity on the finish makes it an ideal wine to serve with everything from briny oysters to salade niçoise to sticky char siu bao. $20, store.wolffer.com

Studio Null Prickly Red

Made from a blend of Tempranillo and Syrah grapes grown in central Spain, this dry red wine has more of a gentle fizz than full-blown effervescence. Its ripe red fruit and grippy tannins are reminiscent of a dry Lambrusco. Plus, it pairs beautifully with hearty holiday dishes like roast turkey, especially when served with a slight chill. $32, nullwines.com

Mionetto Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Wine

This affordable and widely available sparkler comes from Mionetto, the Prosecco powerhouse started in Valdobbiadene, Italy, in 1887. With crisp lemon and green apple aromas and flavors, followed by a short, dry finish, it would be easy to mistake this alcohol-removed bottle for traditionally made Prosecco. It’s made with a blend of Italian grapes, 20 percent of which are Glera, the signature Prosecco variety. $14.99, totalwine.com

Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling 

Delicate bubbles and tart green apple flavors headline this German bottle made from dealcoholized Riesling. It’s a favorite of Alex Ring, wine director of the Michelin-starred Sepia restaurant in Chicago, who praises its “genuinely classic Riesling aromatic profile.” Serve it as an aperitif before a hearty holiday meal, or use it to fill glasses when the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. $21.99, drygoodsdrinks.com

Copenhagen Tea Company Lysegrøn

Made from a blend of black, green, white, and herbal teas, this crisp bottle has citrus flavors, a delicate mousse, and an elegantly tannic finish that might remind some drinkers of non-vintage Brut Champagne. Chris Clark, the beverage director at bōm and Oiji Mi restaurants in Manhattan, loves its layered complexity. He often pairs it with raw fish dishes, though he says he “could also see it near the end of a meal with fruit sorbet or fresh fruit.” $35.99, drygoodsdrinks.com