If you It is Sober October so whether you are off booze for good, taking a break or just watching your weekly glasses, here are some of the best bottles I have been trying this month.
Saicho Sparkling Tea Hojicha (£20, Majestic). The first whiff is earthy green tea opening up to seaweed and smoke. This is one for matcha fans, with its rich umami notes overlaid with faint but present floral notes. The tea leaf base brings a little grip of tannins, so this is good for food pairing, especially seafood and sushi.
Sigalas Rabaud x Moderato (£29.90, le-moderato.com) There is nothing wishy-washy about this wine, which is packed with flavour. The first 0% Sauternes, this Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend has undergone noble rot in a collaboration with premier Grand Cru Classé Chateau Sigalas Rabaud to create a sweet, fresh, booze free experience. Have this with dessert, cheese or as a sweet aperitif.
Sober October: the wines to try
Bolle Twice Fermented Sauvignon Blanc (£19.99, Bolledrinks.co.uk) It’s an incorrect assumption that alcohol free wines are easy to make and not worth spending money on. Dealcoholized wines actually require a long process of making an alcholic wine, and then removing the booze. Bolle has a patent-pending unique process of fermenting the liquid before and after it has been dealcoholized. This is a cut grass and apple fresh Sauvignon for white wine lovers taking a break.
Thomson & Scott Noughty Dealcoholised Sparkling Chardonnay (£9.50, Sainsburys) This is the OG of booze free drinking. They were doing it better than anyone back in 2020 and are still a top choice for elegant, affordable 0% sparkling. Crisp apple and bites of uplifting lemon zest with fine effervescence.
Botivo Wintery Botanical Aperitivo (£30, botivodrinks.com) I was so excited to try the latest limited-edition release by Botivo.
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They have done some brilliant collaborations before with Ottolenghi and Coco de Mer and there is always a bottle, which holds 20 servings, on my bar for my days ‘off’. With tasting notes of cloves, vanilla spice and apple, this one can be served warm, topped up with hot water, or served cold over soda water with a wedge of orange.
Nice Going Places Super French Rosé (£12 Ocado) Admittedly this has an alcohol percentage of 9% so it is one for those moderating rather than abstaining. It is dry, peachy, full of ripe strawberries and imminently quaffable. As summer seems to be extending well into autumn a moderate rosé is an excellent choice. Whatever your preference, there is a great tee-total bottle out there for you this month.
Read more: A wine-lover’s guide to sober October