1. Pairing food with alcohol-free reds
Finding a red wine that tastes just as good without the alcohol is a tough call – but Wednesday’s Domaine Vignette does a superb job. The secret? They’ve taken a juicy Spanish red, gently removed the alcohol, then blended in a handful of natural ingredients to lift body, flavour and length.
The result is a smooth, fruity alcohol-free red with dark black fruit and a touch of spice. Here are my top food suggestions:
Comfort food: Try it with quality bangers and mash to elevate an easy midweek supper. The rich fruit will really shine through.
Date night: If you’re looking to impress, pair this alcohol-free red with a homemade moussaka. The lift of spice will enhance the flavours of the lamb.
Cheese board: There’s enough bite in this alcohol-free red to stand up to a decent mature Cheddar – providing a luxurious end to your meal.
2. Pairing food with alcohol-free whites
Wednesday's Domaine has done another great job with their alcohol-free white, Wednesday Domaine Piquant. Citrusy and refreshing, it'll appeal to fans of crisp, aromatic whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Albariño.
Mineral-fresh with citrus and herb notes, this is a great alcohol-free white to serve with fish dishes. Here are my top suggestions:
Comfort food: Try it fish and chips for a quick-and-easy supper. The lemony freshness will work perfectly with the crisp batter.
Date night: For a fool-proof option, go for herby foil-baked fish, with new potatoes and green beans. The wine’s aromas will blend beautifully with those of the fish.
Cheese board: The classic match for this would be a tangy goat’s cheese – and it does work very well. It’ll also pair nicely with Gouda or Comté.
5. Matching food with alcohol-free sparkling rosé
Oddbird alcohol-free Sparkling rosé comes from Swedish alcohol-free pioneers, Oddbird, whose mission is to make the question, “would you like your wine with or without alcohol?” as common as “would you like your coffee with or without milk?”.
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (the same grapes used for rosé Champagne) it's a vibrant, fruit-filled pink fizz. Here are my top food matching suggestions:
Comfort food: With its freshness, fine bubbles and red berry fruit, Oddbird alcohol-free Sparkling rosé is a great match for simple grilled lamb chops.
Date night: Good pink bubbly is a surprisingly good match for fatty red meats. I enjoyed this with one of my all-time favourites – braised lamb shanks with mashed potatoes.
Cheese board: You can go for slightly stronger flavoured cheese with this one. Try with a mature Camembert of a washed rind cheese like Taleggio.
4. Pairing food with alcohol-free fizz
Spain’s most famous fizz, Cava, is enjoying a surge in popularity now – and rightly so, as it’s excellent value. Made in the same way as Champagne, it has lovely fine bubbles, combined with green apple and tropical fruit.
Made by one of Barcelona’s most experienced Cava producers, H! Barcelona alcohol-free sparkling wine is clean, bright and quaffable – and great with food. Here are my top suggestions:
Comfort food: This alcohol-free Cava works really well with sauced fish dishes and white meats. Try with a rich fish pie for a comforting treat.
Date night: Looking to impress? Why not go Spanish? Start with a selection of tapas dishes, then bring out the seafood paella. Extra effort – but worth it.
Cheese board: Cava works well with milder flavoured cheeses, such as a young brie or a mild cheddar. Or if you’re sticking with Spanish – Manchego.
