I had the opportunity to sample 10 different non-alcoholic (or I should say, de-alcoholized wines). Misty Cliffs and Lautus provided me with samples of their offering and I’m really excited to share my experience with you.

How Do They Get the Booze Out?

Before diving into the tasting notes, a quick primer: non-alcoholic or de-alcoholized wine is not grape juice, or watered down wine. The good stuff is fermented like regular wine and then gently stripped of its intoxicating elements. There are a few ways to do this:

  • Reverse Osmosis: A fancy wine Brita filter, essentially. It pushes the wine through a membrane that separates alcohol and aroma molecules.
  • High-Pressure Processing (HPP): Heat-based, which burns off the booze (often at the cost of flavor). The pressure/vacuum reduces the boiling point, but there’s still a quality sacrifice here.
  • Spinning Cone Column (SCC): The preferred method of both Misty Cliffs and Lautus, which sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but it’s quite elegant. The wine flows down a series of spinning cones in a vertical column to create a fine vapor from the less dense aromatics and alcohol. The aromatic compounds and alcohol are collected, and then aromatics are then reintroduced into the wine. There’s a great video visualization of this on YouTube.

Given that I don’t drink, I don’t have much of a wine background. So going into this, I wasn’t sure if I should expect something closer to Welch’s grape juice, or balsamic vinegar. But, I was pleasantly surprised! That said, the fruitier and bubblier the wine, the more approachable I found it. The still wines often felt a bit “thin”—a side effect, perhaps, of removing the alcohol that gives wine some of its texture and oomph. But the bubbles? They brought the party. In any case, the more I drank, the more I enjoyed them, and I’m excited to share my thoughts about the 10 bottles from Misty Cliffs and Lautus.

Let’s uncork this thing.

Rosé Garden

Misty Cliffs Rosé

Like sipping strawberry lemonade in a botanical garden. This was one of my absolute favorites. It has brunch energy—light, crisp, a little tart, and juuust sweet enough to feel festive without veering into juice box territory. Chill it, serve it with a fruit salad, and enjoy pretending you’re in Provence.
Verdict: Loved it. Would sip again—ice optional, vibes required.

Lautus Rosé

This one felt more serious. Less brunch, more “afternoon seafood on a breezy terrace.” Complex aroma—like an orchard mid-October—and a tart, citrus-forward taste. Think grapefruit meets Granny Smith, with a musky undercurrent.
Verdict: Respectable and food-friendly, but not a solo sipper for me.

Lautus Sparkling Rosé

This one is a party…but a tasteful party. The bottle screams “baby shower,” but the contents say “I’m fun, fruity, and not afraid to sparkle.” Strawberry and honeycrisp apple flavors with a lingering finish that kept me coming back.
Verdict: Delicious and fun. I’ll break this out when I’m feeling sassy.

The White Wines

Misty Cliffs Sauvignon Blanc

Peachy nose, citrusy finish, and an overall lightness that made it super drinkable. Like grapefruit juice that went to finishing school.
Verdict: Crisp and bright. Side note, I drank most of this bottle while driving around on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I don’t think that’s illegal, but it’s not advisable.

Lautus Sauvignon Blanc

Pale, slightly sparkling, and more complex than I expected. A little sour upfront, but it mellows into something tart and apple-y. The bubbles were subtle but added a welcome zing.
Verdict: I liked the journey it took me on. Tart, then sweet, then “wait, are there bubbles?”

Lautus Chardonnay

This one felt like a networking event in a bottle—faintly sour on the nose but surprisingly balanced on the tongue. No standout flavors, but classy and easy to drink.
Verdict: Not a showstopper, but a solid team player. Serve with fish and polite conversation.

Misty Cliffs Brut (Sparkling White)

Bubbly, sharp, and delightfully zesty. Like biting into a just-ripe green apple while someone spritzes you with lemon juice. The carbonation really elevates this one.
Verdict: Fun, festive, and my favorite among the whites. The sparkle makes all the difference.

Red Red Wines

Lautus Savvy Red

First sniff? Straight to the communion table—took me back to my Catholic roots. Taste? Dry, tannic, and more “adult juice box” than expected. Not sweet at all.
Verdict: Maybe not a great one to drink early in my review, but really enjoyable with a red sauce Italian dinner.

Misty Cliffs Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Beautiful color, balsamic on the nose, and a punch of tannins that said “pair me with steak or suffer.” It’s rich and dry, finishing on a sour note that was very distinctive.
Verdict: Not a casual drink, but great with a heavy dinner. Made me want to light candles and debate the ending of The Sopranos.

🏆 Top Picks

I had a great time trying all of these wines, and super grateful to Misty Cliffs and Lautus for supporting this project. This opened my eyes to a culture that I wasn’t familiar with and now I feel like I have an appreciation for the character and nuance of several different wine varieties. I’m sure they’re not 100% the same as their alcoholic counterparts, but I was impressed. While I appreciated them all, I did not appreciate them all equally, and these were my favorites:

  • Misty Cliffs Rosé (best all-around still, fruity and elegant)
  • Lautus Sparkling Rosé (for celebrations or when you need sparkle therapy)
  • Misty Cliffs Brut (bright, crisp, and surprisingly satisfying)
  • Lautus Savvy Red (a bold intro to dry reds without the booziness)

One final note…I had the stupid idea of making some short videos about another side benefit of alcohol free wine. The theme hinged around being able to drink de-alcoholized wines in ordinarily inappropriate settings. This included while driving my car, on a Zoom call for business, walking my dog in the park, and riding light-rail to the airport. I’ll add some more to this YouTube playlist if I let my intrusive thoughts win (please subscribe to the channel!).