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Non-alcoholic wine or de-alcoholised wine is a great addition to a family gathering for holiday celebrations.
It caters to everyone and their lifestyle while retaining the fancy look and feel associated with wine.
Wine drinking is mostly a ritual of drinking for the pleasure of what's in the glass. It is also an act of relaxation and enjoyment with family, friends, or alone.
Improvements in winemaking have led to improved quality in non-alcoholic wines.
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What you need to know
- Sparkling wine is the best pick in non-alcoholic form because the bubbles add dimension, texture, and interest.
- Great non-alcoholic wines have a balance of sweetness, fruitiness, and an invigorating acidity that brings the celebratory fizz.
- De-alcoholised wines usually have sugar added to boost their richness on the palate. But this can cause an aversion. The best way to cut this sweetness is to chill the wines, especially sparkling and white wines, for a long period before drinking them.
- The reds will also benefit from chilling of about 20 minutes before serving.
Here are the best non-alcoholic wines suggestions, from wine connoisseur Kate Hawkings, to buy for Easter starting from Shs15,000 a bottle.
Leitz Eins Zwei Zero, Shs31,000
Off-dry with zesty, peachy fruit best for East-Asian delicacies.
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Leitz Eins Zwei Zero
Thomas & Scott Noughty, Shs60,000
It is organic and vegan. Very low in sugar and has zero percent sparkle. It is a combination of chardonnay grapes, lovely green-apple freshness, and neat, bright acidity.
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Thomas & Scott Noughty
Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling, Shs45,000
This is a prestigious German wine. It has tones of lime, subtle rhubarb, and the crunch of apples sealed in a smart label.
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Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling
La Gioiosa, Shs29,000
La Gioiosa is an Italian palate blessing with high tones of peachy fruit and somber floral notes delivered in a fine fizz.
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La Gioiosa
M&S alcohol-free Sparkling muscat, Shs24,000
This is not de-alcoholised, it is simply grape juice with carbon dioxide to make it sparkle. It is a clean and fruity food chaser.
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M&S alcohol-free Sparkling muscat
Nozeco, Shs14,000
Nozeco is a cheap thrill of bubbles. Sweet but easy on the palate when served chilled.
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Nozeco
Wednesday's Domaine twin pack, Shs110,000
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Wednesday's Domaine twin pack
Complex flavour and finely balanced finish. They are low in sugar, only serve 42 calories a glass, and go well with chargrilled veggies or meat.
The Piquant white is crisp and floral.
The Sanguine red is a light, berry-focussed red with a little tang.
Torres Natureo De Alcoholised Muscat, Shs27,000
This one is perfect for spicy foods. It was one of the pioneers of zero-alcohol wines and still retains its floral muscat aromas with a wine-like feel of grapes.
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Torres Natureo De Alcoholised Muscat
Sinzero Rivera Cabernet Sauvignon, Shs50,000
This is a soft spicy 0.5 percent ABV sauvignon that ages in barrels made from the millennial guardian oak tree. It makes a great chaser for pasta.
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Sinzero Rivera Cabernet Sauvignon
De Bortoli The Very Cautious One Shiraz, Shs27,000
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De Bortoli The Very Cautious One Shiraz
It is packed with blackcurrant which makes it smell like Ribena. However, it has a light, fresh, and lovely dry finish.