Friend coming over for a meal - alternative to wine?

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I have a friend coming around for tea/dinner next week. I'd like to offer her something a bit more adult than orange squash with our meal 😅

What drink (non-alcoholic) can I serve as a wine alternative?

Is non-alcoholic wine the answer? If so, what's a good one?

Thank you!

Non alcoholic wine is rarely nice, something like sparkling elderflower would be better.

Sparking elderflower, Belvoir do lovely flavoured cordials that you could mix with soda water to add a bit of fizz. Alcohol free beer is quite nice usually, I've yet to find a drinkable alcohol free wine though. Seedlip also do alcohol free spirits with a gin sort of vibe which are nice with ice and tonic (they are quite expensive though)

Answer depends on the reason for not wanting wine. Non alcoholic wine is unlikely to be suitable for someone who doesn't like wine, has never drunk alcohol (and not acquired a taste), or is a recovering alcoholic. But may be a good option if the reason is pregnancy, health, work or driving!

I just don't like wine, so my preferred alternatives are:
Appletizer
Sparkling elderflower
Shloer - various grape juice mixes

I'm generally teetotal, Shloer is my go-to for "fancy" dinner drinks :)

There are nice non-alcoholic gins nowadays.

Otherwise sparkling elderflower or similar.

I tend to drink ginger beer or flavoured tonic water if I don't want wine.

Whats on the menu?

Thanks for the suggestions.

I really don't like schloer but elderflower is a good shout, thank you.
I might actually have some seedlip hiding at the back of the cupboard.

Reason for not drinking = It's a school night 😆

I think I'll do this chilli: https://www.bosh.tv/recipes/total-protein-chilli

With some rice, some garlic bread and some salad.

I liked the Freixenet 0% I had at the weekend

Koppaberg alcohol free tastes exactly like ordinary Koppaberg

Nozeco is really nice!
Could easily be mistaken for real Prosecco.

I love Elderflower cordial with sparkling water, so refreshing!

Belvoir do loads of different presses or cordials that you can mix with soda water. Elderflower is probably the most common in the supermarkets, but there is quite a wide range of flavours if you look around.

Maybe a light non-alcoholic beer?

Cawston do some lovely sparkling fruit juices - apple and rhubarb is particularly good.

Or even the cheap supermarket flavoured waters tbh - these get absolutely hoovered up when my friends and I do dry get togethers

I quite like Crodino as a grown up soft drink treat. They're a little pricey as £6 for 3 from Sainsbury's, hence the treat status.

A bit like Aperol. Add lots of ice, slice of orange and a whack of soda (quite sweet without soda)

www.crodino.com/en-uk/

Are you making a decision not to offer her any wine?

School night or not I would have a glass if I had guests. Or offer guests some even if I drank water.

And otherwise drink water. Possibly sparking water.

When I am not drinking alcohol I drink water and would say no to sweet fruit based stuff. What does your guest like?

I'm not drinking and I prefer sparkling water with ice and lemon/lime wedge usually.

Sweet drinks don't go as well with meals.

AF beer is a good shout, then maybe have elderflower as an option, and/or tonic water or angostura bitters.

These are all such helpful suggestions, thank you!!

Bottlegreen do a lovely lime and mint cordial.

All the supermarkets do posh soft drinks these days, sparking elderflower works well with food but there's others.

Love Crodino! And a big yes also to those little cans of flavoured tonic. They are honestly just as nice as a gin and tonic. Belvoir also excellent for slightly grown up tasting soft drinks.

I had some of this recently and it was delicious: https://www.belvoirfarm.co.uk/product/sparkling-cucumber-mint/

Appletiser is my go-to as a treat drink (am in recovery which is why I stay away from AF wines - tho Nozeco is the best in my previous experience)