Alcohol-free red wine

[MKCH]

Please tell me someone has found one that tastes like actual red wine....

I'm 14 weeks pregnant, the weather is shite, my DP has got a bottle of red out to have later, my toddler DD is driving me insane with sleep regression ie not bloody sleeping and I just really want a glass of red wine later.

No, I'm not an alcoholic, no, I didn't have bad drinking patterns pre-pregnancy (been reading some old threads where this is the point made rather than suggestions).

I just want a glass of red. Real red.

Anyone found anything that tastes anywhere near similar?!

Blue beer is your friend. Alcohol free wine is the work of the devil.

Sorry, it doesn't exist :(
Will you allow yourself a single glass of the real stuff?

@Saggybaggyaggy gah I was fearing that. I've tried it previously and it's been disgusting. I just hoped that technology had come on since then! I might allow myself a small one later... :)

@coodawoodashooda or that may have to do. I think I might have an alcohol free cider in the fridge too. Just not the same as being cosy with a blanket and a glass of red wine and a film when it's raining outside!

It's ok, only 6 months to go... 😩

Good alcohol free red doesn’t exist, though I can recommend a good alternative to mulled wine.

It doesn’t exist and god knows what they put in there to make it taste so bad - it’s probably worse for you than normal wine

Fortunately I’m not craving red wine at the minute (although when baby is here I’m having a massive rare steak and whole bottle of red in a hot, hot, hot bath). I’ve been going for the mocktails instead - coop near us do a nice, own brand lime and mint presse that isn’t too far from a mojito. It’s sort of hitting the spot!

Oooh @PurBal that might hit the spot! Where's that from?

@InTheNightWeWillWish I have a coop down the road! Might make a trip.

I can also thoroughly recommend the Gordon's 0% gin. Wouldn't know it wasn't proper gin. But that's too summery for today's tastes!

Ergh I could have written this! I tried a few different ones but all tasted shite! Red wine is so hard to replicate. I found Nosecco is a good alcohol free alternative to prosecco (albeit not red) and it tastes like the real thing. Honestly, give up on the red wine search. I just sniffed my husbands wine instead.

I’ve found a couple of passable whites, but the reds have been horrendous.

A good mocktail might help, as they can look fancy and taste good. I don't drink alcohol myself but my friends who do seem to like them as alternatives. My favourite for summer is a virgin mojito.

Only red I've found that I like is the Rawson's Retreat one. I gave up alcohol a few years ago and occasionally get a real hankering for a cosy, warming red with a book!

Sadly not, I've got 9 weeks to go and I can't wait for a glass of red. I've found the best thing to drink at night that tastes nice is a mojito style drink, tbf it tastes better than a normal mojito and I love the taste of alcohol!

Slimline tonic 1 small can
Lime cordial (M&S I found the best)
Squeeze of lemon.
Fresh mint. Bash the mint together with the cordial at the start
Loads of ice.

It's amazing I literally down mine 😂

M&S non alcoholic red wine is a really good option!! I was pleasantly surprised at how good of a comparison it was! The rosé is also pretty good.

Love these tips!

I came to read this thread with great hopes, such have been sadly dashed 😁

I had a great mocktail in a restaurant last night which was like what @jessiccakxx described but with elderflower cordial (and tonic) as well. I'm definitely making it at home if it warms up again!

Some great tips, thanks! I feel like I should try the two reds mentioned and report back...

And the fake mojito sounds good. Will try that too!

Oooh the other thing I found that is delicious (although I think 1.5% rather than alcohol free, although they claim that a bread roll and a ripe banana and a glass of orange juice has more alcohol than that.... hmmm) is the Clean Co Spiced Rum - absolutely delicious with coke. Don't get the mock tequila from them though, it's not nice!

If you have a co-op nearby check if they sell the seriously sober range.

I really like the Nomosa, it's got a real kick to it that almost feels alcoholic.

Sorry it's Sparklingly Sober not seriously sober

Nope, sorry. There are loads of good beer options but wine is totally shite. The Eisberg one is just about passable but seems to taste awful after it's been opened more than an hour or so so unless you drink the whole bottle in one go it's a big waste.

Please save yourself the torture and have a real glass of proper red and enjoy yourself.

Alcohol free wine is nothing but shitty vimto.

I'm sure I read that red wine is good for your heart, blood pressure and immune system.

A load of crap. No alcohol is good for you.
To say it’s good for your heart, blood pressure and immune system sounds like some made up Daily Mail head line 🙄

@pastabest pahaha I feel seriously sober!!
Will check it out.

I have caved and treated myself to a very small glass of red wine. It's delicious but I can already feel the heartburn building so I'm reassured that it won't become a regular occurrence!

The best equivalent I could stomach was an alcohol free rose spritzer with soda water.

The martini 0% aperol is amazing too. Tastes very very similar to aperol! X

I just allow myself a small glass on occasion, had a beautiful red a few nights ago with dinner. It does no harm and before the guidelines women smoked and drank as normal. My Great Grandma was a heavy smoker (in the 40s) through all 3 of her pregnancies, all of her kids turned out fine. It’s obviously far from ideal and I don’t condone that at all, but it puts things into perspective. She said back then people just cracked on as normal. Nowadays people also encourage drinking Guinness for the iron - that’s got alcohol in it! My auntie is a midwife and treated herself to an occasional drink throughout both of her pregnancies too. So my long-winded post is basically just to say - enjoy a real red :D