The top booze-free wines – from pinot noir to sparkling rosé – taste surprisingly similar to traditional offerings

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As an editor and writer who regularly covers the world of nonalcoholic drinks, I have tasted more than my fair share of booze-free wines. Much like with regular wine, the results have been mixed – some are bitter or super sour, or even worse, smell like nothing. But I’ve also had the pleasure of drinking alcohol-free wines that scratched the same itch as a top-notch riesling or champagne.

When I have conversations with people who are curious about nonalcoholic wines, cost comes up as one of the most common concerns. I totally understand that it’s tempting to write off the category as upcharged grape juice with better branding, but contrary to popular opinion, you’re not actually paying for the alcohol in regular wine either.