Non Alcoholic Sparkling Wines

For the designated driver couriering everyone home safely, for the person cutting back for dietary or health reasons, and for those who don't participate in alcoholic shenanigans - non alcoholic wines are an important category that allows us to be social without any silent judgement or awkward questions.

We've had a long history of enjoying the JC Le Roux Le Domaine Non Alcoholic wine with friends who don't consume alcohol. For this reason, I was more than happy to purchase a few bottles to taste for a friend. I gathered a few friends to help me finish the bottles before the bubbles disappeared. We focused on drier de-alcoholised wines, with the express purpose of finding a good substitute that retained some of the charm of an alcoholic bubbly. Here's where we landed:

1. Allure Sparkling white wine (the favourite)

Pale gold with a pink hue. This wine had the finest bubbles that held their 'stream' for a good long while. A medium intensity nose of red apples, lemons, raspberries, white peaches, sweet spices, and less confected than the Lautus or Norah. Dry, medium acidity, light bodied, with a medium intensity palate of Granny Smith apples, toffee apples, oranges, sweet lemons, preserved lemons, apricots, and salty apricots. The crisp fine foamy bubbles are pretty persistent, ending with a medium finish.

markedly different from the others - cleaner, more mineral, more focused. One could be tricked into thinking it was the real thing.

"Pinot Noir 76% and Chardonnay 24% were whole-bunch pressed and separated into quality and press fractions. Fermented separately in stainless steel tanks and aged on the primary lees for 3 months before blending, stabilising, filtering and bottling. The alcohol removal is done with a spinning cone under vacuum. During this process, care is taken to work as gently as possible to retain the flavours of the Cap Classique base wine from fermentation. The de-alcoholised wine is then bottled using the latest technology of CO2 sparging, reaching a final pressure of 4.5 bar."

0.28% ABV | 23.8g/L RS | TA 7.5g/L | pH 2.96


2. Lautus Sparkling White (2nd favourite)

Pale lemon that's slighter deeper than the rest. It has a less intense nose (compared to the Allure) of orange blossoms, lemongrass, lime cordial, and green apples (kerosene after sitting in the glass for 2 hours). Dry, medium acidity, medium bodied but richer and fuller than the rest. With a medium intensity palate of salty apricots, peaches, extra-ripe cooked stone fruits, and yellow apples. The mousse felt harsh and foamy. The finish is short.

This felt richer and fuller bodied

100% Chardonnay from Voor Paardeberg were crushed, pressed and settled overnight. Inoculated and fermented at 14-16ºC and left on the lees for 3 months. The alcohol is removed via spinning cone technology.

<0.5% ABV | 26g/L RS | TA 6.2g/L | pH 3.3


3. Norah's Valley Satin Sparkling White Wine

Pale lemon with medium sized lively bubbles that lasted well in the glass and bottle over the course of an hour.
A medium intensity nose shows candied lemon, lemon cordial, white peaches, and tinned pineapples
Off-dry, medium acidity, and light bodied. With a medium intensity palate of riper peaches, sweet oranges, limes, tinned pineapples, and metallic salinity. The wine has a shorter finish.

noticeably more aromatic than the rest

100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes were destalked, crushed and fermented at low temperature fermentation. The alcohol is removed via spinning cone at low temperature in a vacuum with no additions and chemical free. Before bottling the wine is flushed with Carbon Dioxide to create its lively sparkle.

0.27% ABV | 4.07g/L RS


4. Robertson Winery Dry Sparkling White

Pale lemon with loads of vigorous bubbles that lasted the longest in the glass. A medium intensity nose of grapes, sultanas, peaches, pears, ripe oranges, and nutmeg. Dry, lower acidity than the others, with a lighter intensity palate of yellow apples, grapes, lemon, and pear. It's quite muted and dull...like watered down apple juice. This wine has a very short finish

the bubbles were the most long-lasting, but the wine felt dull and muted

100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes were destalked, crushed and fermented at low temperature fermentation. The alcohol is removed via spinning cone at low temperature in a vacuum with no additions and chemical free. Before bottling the wine is flushed with Carbon Dioxide to create its lively sparkle.

<5% ABV | 25g/L RS | TA 5.5g/L


Please note that the prices quoted are from the wineries' websites - the wines are often sold by the case.

Other Non Alcoholic Sparklings available:

Darling Cellars De-alcoholised Sparkling Rose (96% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Grenache) at roughly R109/bottle

De Krans Muscat Nectar Alcohol-Free Sparkling at roughly R80/bottle

Old Road Wine Co. Gorgeous Rosé Sparkling Non-alcoholic at roughly R132/bottle

JC Le Roux La Fleurette Non Alcoholic and JC Le Roux Le Domaine Non Alcoholic at roughly R90/bottle

Robertson Non Alcoholic Dry Sparkling Pink, Robertson Non Alcoholic Sweet Sparkling Pink and Robertson Non Alcoholic Sweet Sparkling White at roughly R75/bottle

Rooiberg Doux Alcohol-Free Sweet Sparkling Red (mainly Muscat d'Alexandrie blended with Colombar) and Rooiberg Doux Alcohol-Free Sweet Sparkling White at roughly R72/bottle

Van Loveren Absolute Zero Nectar Sparkling (De-alcoholised Sauvignon Blanc that is slightly richer and sweeter), Van Loveren Absolute Zero Sparkling (De-alcoholised Sauvignon Blanc) at roughly R115/bottle

Vin de Classique Charme Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Red and Vin de Classique CHARMÉ Non-Alcoholic Sparkling White at R75/bottle

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