Alcohol-free red wine

[tobeee]

Yes, I know! I just had to start a course of tablets that cannot be used with alcohol, so could do with recommendations for something that resembles red wine to enjoy over Christmas. I'm not fussed which type of red, as long as it's close enough to the real thing to give me a vague sense of normal holiday sipping.

[Hoofy]

I've tried a few and they're just not the same. I know they're supposed to be wine with the alcohol removed but it changes the flavour. You'd think they'd figure out a way of putting back the missing "edge". It's like as Sean Lock described what the world would be like without herbs.

We just buy interesting fruit drinks eg Cawston or Chegworth Valley.

[Caddyshack]

Look at Noughty dealcoholised wines, they are ok but won’t be like a heavy red.

There are not many tablets that cannot be taken with the odd glass of wine (according to a consultant Dr that I know)

Booze free Xmas is very refreshing though. This will be my 6th.

[bobthemonkey]

Take a look at Jukes.

It’s not wine, but it’s specifically made to be a wine alternative for those not drinking.

[Slowboathome]

Caddyshack said:

Look at Noughty dealcoholised wines, they are ok but won’t be like a heavy red.

There are not many tablets that cannot be taken with the odd glass of wine (according to a consultant Dr that I know)

Booze free Xmas is very refreshing though. This will be my 6th.

Sorry to come in at a tangent, but are there any other drinks you'd recommend? I'm alright for Guinness (the 0.0 version is excellent) and happy with Brew Dog Infinite. Would love to find a wine or whisky replacement......

[Hoofy]

Yeah, Guiness 0.0 is a great tasting drink which is good going for a non-alcoholic version. I actually prefer it to the real version! Not so keen on 0% ales in general, though, but then I prefer heavier stuff like porters (I will happily drink any darker ale).

[Louis Balfour]

Hoofy said:

Yeah, Guiness 0.0 is a great tasting drink which is good going for a non-alcoholic version. I actually prefer it to the real version! Not so keen on 0% ales in general, though, but then I prefer heavier stuff like porters (I will happily drink any darker ale).

I tried a number of 0% beers a couple of months back. They ALL share the same finish, which is a sort of fruity meh-ness. Guiness no exception.

I concluded that it is necessary to have alcohol to make beer taste good. Without it, the taste is somehow disjointed. I never thought I would quote Morcambe and Wise (shoot me now) but to me the alcohol free beer experience is "...all the *right* notes. But not *necessarily* in the right order."

[bolidemichael]

bobthemonkey said:

Take a look at Jukes.

It’s not wine, but it’s specifically made to be a wine alternative for those not drinking.

Whilst I haven’t tried it, Jukes is a good shout as it’s essentially a shrub — they’re all based on apple cider vinegar. This unlocks a totally different and more satisfying palate than other beverages that try to replicate alcoholic offerings.

[Louis Balfour]

bolidemichael said:

bobthemonkey said:

Take a look at Jukes.

It’s not wine, but it’s specifically made to be a wine alternative for those not drinking.

Whilst I haven’t tried it, Jukes is a good shout as it’s essentially a shrub — they’re all based on apple cider vinegar. This unlocks a totally different and more satisfying palate than other beverages that try to replicate alcoholic offerings.

Interesting. In fact, ACV mixed with sparkling water is not an unpleasant drink.

[dickymint]

None of my business and totally understand If you don't want to discuss it but in my experience a Doctor will always say "and no alcohol" - I always question it to find out the reason/s behind it and invariably the the risk comes back as minimal! A couple of glasses of low alcohol plonk or beer over a couple of days during most of the medication I've been prescribed has made no difference to me.

Caveat: I'm not recommending you do as I do and for clarity I'm a heavy smoker, had a small heart attack nearly 20 years ago and take 5 pills a day plus an inhaler

[dudleybloke]

[Hoofy]

Louis Balfour said:

Hoofy said:

Yeah, Guiness 0.0 is a great tasting drink which is good going for a non-alcoholic version. I actually prefer it to the real version! Not so keen on 0% ales in general, though, but then I prefer heavier stuff like porters (I will happily drink any darker ale).

I tried a number of 0% beers a couple of months back. They ALL share the same finish, which is a sort of fruity meh-ness. Guiness no exception.

I concluded that it is necessary to have alcohol to make beer taste good. Without it, the taste is somehow disjointed. I never thought I would quote Morcambe and Wise (shoot me now) but to me the alcohol free beer experience is "...all the *right* notes. But not *necessarily* in the right order."

I liked the Guiness 0.0 because it tastes like coffee not because it tastes like a stout!

[mikeiow]

I feel that Guinness 0% tastes pretty well the same as Guinness, perhaps without the slight ‘after-taste tang’of the real. Never especially liked that last bit anyway, but I *love* the 0% - my go-to drink if I am the driver.

I’ve tried a few zero reds, and NONE of them were worthy of a repeat,
I’d agree with just going with squashes or interesting juice drinks.

[Hoofy]

mikeiow said:

I feel that Guinness 0% tastes pretty well the same as Guinness, perhaps without the slight ‘after-taste tang’of the real. Never especially liked that last bit anyway, but I *love* the 0% - my go-to drink if I am the driver.

I do like the taste of the 0.0% one and even more funny is that I don't even really like the real thing! I tried a half a few years ago in a Wetherspoons because it was cheap and much prefer some dark ale. Never bought it since then but ended up trying a 0.0% at a demo stand in a Tesco Extra and was impressed with the taste so much so that I bought two 4 packs. Bizarre, eh.

[tobeee]

Thanks everyone.

I have an appointment with the doc this week so will quiz him on the tablets. If mixing with alcohol will make me sick or stop the drugs working or damage the effectiveness of my eight-week daily dose then I'll just have to grow up and enjoy an alcohol-free xmas!

I do like the Guinness 0% (and am bearing the Peroni 0) but get filled up fast on beer these days so I prefer wine. I'll give the Jukes a go - Waitrose stock the fizzy red apparently, so I'll try that first before committing to 38 quid of red vinegar.

[mikeiow]

tobeee said:

Thanks everyone.

I have an appointment with the doc this week so will quiz him on the tablets. If mixing with alcohol will make me sick or stop the drugs working or damage the effectiveness of my eight-week daily dose then I'll just have to grow up and enjoy an alcohol-free xmas!

I do like the Guinness 0% (and am bearing the Peroni 0) but get filled up fast on beer these days so I prefer wine. I'll give the Jukes a go - Waitrose stock the fizzy red apparently, so I'll try that first before committing to 38 quid of red vinegar.

Let us know if you find a decent 0% red....as I said above, I have tried a few and failed to find any that don't taste pretty awful to me, but would be nice to hear of any that *are* tolerably decent!

[donaircooleone]

A bit left field but Waitrose used to do a rather splendid Merlot Grape Juice, which has now been replaced by 'Red Grape Juice'. Has a great flavour, with depth and a substantial mouth-feel.

[bolidemichael]

Many ethnic shops sell bottles of grape juice that are for celebratory events. Perhaps try one of those places.

[Silvanus]

bolidemichael said:

Many ethnic shops sell bottles of grape juice that are for celebratory events. Perhaps try one of those places.

Or just buy shloer, sparkling grape juice in white, red or rose.

[thebraketester]

mikeiow said:

I feel that Guinness 0% tastes pretty well the same as Guinness, perhaps without the slight ‘after-taste tang’of the real. Never especially liked that last bit anyway, but I *love* the 0% - my go-to drink if I am the driver.

I’ve tried a few zero reds, and NONE of them were worthy of a repeat,
I’d agree with just going with squashes or interesting juice drinks.

Yeah I does taste very similar to normal Guinness. It just doesn't have that 'back of the tongue' bitterness you get from the alcohol. I like it and drank it for a white but I've given up on even 0% drinks really. The truth is I loved drinking to get pissed much more than because I loved the taste of it