"Wine is sunlight, held together by water." – Galileo Galilei
Why Is Non- or Low-Alcohol Wine Usually Bad? Okay, let’s be honest: if you grew up in Italy like I did, you might not be the most neutral judge when it comes to non- or low-alcohol wines.
Wine, to us, is a full experience—it’s flavor, it’s aroma, it’s texture... and yes, it’s alcohol too.
My First Attempt
Out of pure curiosity, I once tried a non-alcoholic wine.
I thought, "How bad could it be?"
Well... let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a moment of enlightenment.
It tasted flat, awkward, and oddly sweet, like grape juice that had been left out too long. Not what you want when you’re expecting the complexity and life that real wine brings to the table.
Honestly?
If I want something non-alcoholic, I’ll just have water. Or a nice cold Coke. Or Fanta! At least they own what they are.
It’s the same with beer for me.
Zero-alcohol beer tastes like... nothing. Like a ghost of the real thing. When I don't want beer, I simply drink something else without trying to force it.
To Be Fair...
The non- and low-alcohol wine sector is growing fast.
There’s serious money and innovation going into it.
And I’ve heard that some newer producers are actually managing to make versions that taste much better—balanced, refreshing, and much closer to real wine.
So, while my first experience wasn’t great, I’m keeping an open mind.
Wine, after all, is about discovery. Maybe the next non-alcoholic bottle will surprise me!
