Dry Always - Wine
Sharing my favorite N/A wines under $35
While I may be late to the game for the January, 2026 edition of Dry January, I’m using this Substack series to share my favorite non-alcoholic alternatives for beer, wine, and liquor as someone who hasn’t had the leaded version since late 2018. My first post provided some background on while I’ll forever be a consumer of N/A beverages (and not leaded or alcoholic versions), some background on how they make non-alcoholic versions of various drinks, and recommendations for N/A beers. Today, we’re tackling the category I’ve heard the most resistance to (“So, you mean grape juice?” or “They’re all too sweet”): N/A wine.
Acknowledging the Elephant
The “there aren’t any good N/A reds” elephant, that is. Maybe a baby elephant more than an adult one but still need to point out its presence. I won’t lie, there’s only a couple of N/A red wines I’ve actually enjoyed so those will be few and far between in my recommendations. See what Wine Enthusiast recommends its recent red N/A wine roundup; not all of the bottles on their list are available in the US but those that are have prices around $30. Serious Eats likes Proxies Red Ember ($28, link to The Zero Proof) best while NY Times Wirecutter likes Noughty Rouge ($31.99, link to Amazon with no referral code) and Studio Null Prickly Red ($34, link to the wine maker with no referral code).
DC Area Shops
Living in a major metropolitan area certainly has its perks. Each of the following stores have a handful of N/A wine options and will be happy to help you find a new favorite.
Norm’s Beer and Wine (136 Branch Rd., SE Vienna, VA 22180)
Norm’s is a tiny store with lots of inventory. Check out their N/A wines as well as their great selection of N/A beer. Stock rotates frequently but is often updated in the online inventory.
Wine Gallery 108 (108 North Saint Asaph Street, Alexandria, VA 22314)
The N/A wine section at Wine Gallery 108 is slowly growing as demand increases. They actually hosted a No/Low Alcohol event last weekend. I have a special love of this place as they offer up their second floor space for small businesses which are just starting out or waiting for their permanent space to be refurbished (like Friends to Lovers, the romance bookstore, after their major fire just after opening).
Honorable Mention: Le Vin (1218 King St. Alexandria, VA 22314)
The owners have told me they intend to carry N/A wines as soon as they find one available from their distributors that meets the staff’s high standards. Given the quality of their regular wines, I’d expect these to be outstanding but average around the $40 price point.
Favorites from Big Box Stores
While your local grocery store may not have an N/A wine section, you probably have a big box outlet like Total Wine or BevMo that’ll have a number of options. Trying to find where N/A wine is at a grocery store? I’ve seen them next to Kosher and specialty wines, single-serving and boxes leaded wines, with mixers and drink additives like grenadine and tonic water, and by the bottled fruit juice. If your grocery store has an app that’s aisle-specific, that’ll be your best bet for locating them as, very often, store employees even know N/A wines exist.
I’ve listed these from roughly cheapest to most expensive, using my local Total Wine’s (TW) prices as a guide which is listed after each:
Fre Chardonnay ($8.99)
Tasting notes from TW: Rich, creamy apple flavors mingle with crisp citrus notes on the palate, leading to an enjoyably tart finish.
Target, CVS, 7-11, and many grocery stores carry this one in the DC area.
Sea Glass Pinot Grigio Non-Alcoholic ($10.49)
Tasting notes from me: Very similar to a leaded Pinot Grigio with crisp, white fruit flavors without being overly sweet.
Be sure to purchase the N/A as a leaded version is also available.
St. Regis Chardonnay ($11.99)
Tasting notes from TW: delicate aromas of apples and pears on the nose and palate framed with subtle touches of toasty oak
This is another wine I’ve often seen at grocery stores though less commonly than Fre products.
St. Regis Rose ($11.99)
Tasting notes from TW: Aromas of strawberries and raspberries extend to the palate which lead to a soft pleasant finish
Like the Chardonnay, I’ve often seen these at grocery stores.
Giesen Sauvignon Blanc ($11.89)
Tasting notes from TW: Delicious citrus flavors followed by distinct blackcurrant & passionfruit notes define this premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Finishes crisp & dry with juicy brightness.
Giesen also makes leaded wines so be sure to look for the large 0% or Dealcoholized on the label. It appears as if the leaded versions also list their name in italics, though I wouldn’t rely on that alone.
I’ve often seen this in the DC area at Whole Foods and Wegmans but rarely at standard grocery stores.
Giesen Pinot Gris ($11.99)
Tasting notes from TW: Aromatically expressive, crisp, and refreshing, with varietal characteristics you know & love
Giesen Rose ($11.99)
Tasting notes from me: This is most similar to a light rose from southern France though a bit more fruit and less dry. Great for a hot day with a mild-flavored meal.
Giesen Premium Red Blend ($11.99)
Tasting notes from Giesen: Crushed red berries and plum offset by toasted oak on the palate combine to give a light and refreshing option with classic structure and fine, powdery tannins on the finish.
This wine is made from Merlot grapes that are from a mixture of vineyards and perhaps years, as well.
This wine has a great explanation as to how it’s made a bit down the page on the Giesen site about it here.
Josh Cellars Sparkling ($13.99)
Tasting notes from TW: Vibrant and refreshing with aromas of pear, citrus and green apple
This is my favorite sparkling non-alcoholic wine I can easily find at local stores. I’m hopeful this may mean Josh decides it’s worth making their other wines in N/A versions.
I’ve found this at Target, Whole Foods, and Total Wine.
St. Regis Secco ($14.99)
Tasting notes from TW: Well balanced and structured, it is marked by intense fruit notes, including nutmeg and delicate white flowers
I’ve only found this at Total Wine in the DC area
Giese Sparkling Brut ($16.99)
Tasting notes from me: Slightly sweeter sparkling when you want to celebrate with a little extra sweetness.
I’ve found this at Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Total Wine in the DC area.
Luminara Chardonnay ($18.99)
Tasting notes from TW: Rich tropical aromas, a palate of Fuji apples and lemon cream
When I find this, I buy the store out or get a case, whichever is less. My absolute favorite N/A wine. (The Springfield, VA store is currently sold out because of me - sorry!)
Noughty Sparkling Rose ($21.99)
Tasting notes from TW: Aromas of fresh berries with the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity
I’ve only found this at Total Wine in the DC area