The Washington Post: The best nonalcoholic red wines for holiday meals

When The Washington Post included Jøyus in its roundup of the best nonalcoholic red wines for Thanksgiving, we couldn’t help but smile! The article’s blind tasting panel loved our Cabernet Sauvignon for its bright, fruit-forward flavors and easy-drinking balance. Proof that non-alcoholic wine can absolutely hold its own at the holiday table.

Read on for our feature.

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Though nonalcoholic wines aren’t a new invention, good ones are. The first one I tasted, more than 20 years ago at a Thanksgiving dinner, was little more than dark grape juice in a fancy bottle, and while I was happy to have something a bit more sophisticated to sip at dinner, it was more about fitting in than outright enjoyment. It also felt like a shame to pair good food with not-so-good wine — especially on the one holiday that’s specifically all about the food — but still, it was better than drinking soda.

That’s no longer the case, especially where red wine is concerned. Technology has improved, and it’s now possible to strip the alcohol from wine without decimating body, color and all the distinct characteristics that make reds so special in the first place. Now there are so many choices, including sophisticated cabernets and fruity blends, it’s genuinely hard to know where to start. We’re well past the “any choice is a good choice” era and deep into the “which of these fifty great choices is the best?” problem.

And the audience has changed, too. Nonalcoholic wine is no longer just for those in recovery. It’s for anyone who loves the ritual and flavor of wine but not the buzz — or the hangover: hosts who would like everyone to feel included, people taking a night off, sober-curious types who want something nice in their glass. Turns out you don’t need alcohol to enjoy the swirl, the clink, or that first deep sip of something dark and delicious.

But with the abundance, it’s easy to get lost in marketing and pretty labels. We wanted to know what really holds up. So we assembled a blind taste panel — a mix of drinkers across the spectrum: ones taking a break, newcomers to the NA scene, and longtime sober folks. The mission: to find truly fantastic nonalcoholic reds that will pair well with a holiday meal — or any time you want a glass of wine but not the alcohol.