After the indulgence of Christmas, many of us seek balance rather than abstinence. Increasingly, that balance is found in wines and spirits that deliver flavour and complexity at lower or no alcohol - not as a compromise, but as a conscious choice. At JN Wine, the Low & No alcohol category now spans a broad spectrum of styles and production methods, united by quality and choice.
Naturally Lower Alcohol Wines
Long before lower-alcohol wine became a talking point, Dr John Forrest explored how alcohol could be reduced without removing it. His solution lay in the vineyard rather than post-production. Dr Forrest’s method uses innovative trellising and canopy management to limit sugar accumulation in grapes while ensuring a long hang-time to develop full phenolic ripeness—including aroma, flavour, acidity, and tannin - for dry wine production. The result is fully ripe, varietal- and terroir-focused wines with naturally lower alcohol and no loss of flavour.
This approach defines the Forrest Doctors’ range. The Doctors’ Pinot Noir 2021 shows Marlborough Pinot at its most delicate, with savoury detail and freshness. The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023 offers a zesty, nuanced expression of the Marlborough norm, while The Doctors’ Riesling 2023 demonstrates why Riesling is naturally suited to lower alcohol, combining aromatic richness with featherlight tension and length.
Some wines achieve lower alcohol through variety and site alone. Riesling remains a benchmark, reaching flavour ripeness at modest sugar levels. The Pikes ‘Hills & Valleys’ Riesling 2024, at just 10.5%, reflects elevated Clare Valley sites and early picking, delivering precision and drive without weight.
Prosecco is another natural fit. Produced via the Charmat method, where secondary fermentation occurs in tank, it typically finishes at lower alcohol. Botter Quadri Prosecco DOC Spumante Extra-Dry NV, also at 10.5%, offers gentle mousse and fresh pomaceous fruit, making it an accessible lighter sparkling option. For a more unconventional style, the Ventiventi ‘Happy Selvaggio’ Ancestrale 2023 offers lower alcohol (11%) with pét-nat funkiness and a portion of proceeds supporting charitable causes.
For reds, Loire Cabernet Franc is often moderate in alcohol. Domaine Olga Raffault ‘La Fraich’ 2023 exemplifies this perfectly. At just 12.2%, it delivers crunchy red fruit, lithe tannins, refreshing acidity, and an overall lightness that embodies tempered consumption. It is also organic and low intervention in production.
Non-Alcoholic Wines
Modern de-alcoholisation has brought major improvements in quality. Darling Cellars’ de-alcoholised Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Rosé, and Sparkling White and Rosé - from South Africa’s Darling region - are fully fermented before alcohol is removed using spinning cone technology, a low-temperature vacuum distillation process. This preserves aroma and grape character, producing easy-going, varietally led wines.
At the premium end, Bolle produces Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling Rosé, and still Chardonnay. These wines are made traditionally in France, California, Spain, Italy, and Germany, then undergo careful alcohol removal by vacuum distillation. The sparkling wines retain structure and acidity, showing surprising complexity from secondary fermentation and bottle aging, and are also available in convenient half bottles, ideal for moderated drinking. The Chardonnay demonstrates true sophistication, with nutty oak and creamy lees influence elevating it above much of the category. Unsurprisingly, Bolle wines have earned critical acclaim, including top scores from Wine Enthusiast and multiple competition medals.
Alongside these are long-standing non-alcoholic references such as Loosen Sobr Sekt and Dr Lo Non-Alcoholic Riesling, crafted by Dr “Ernie” Loosen of the Mosel estate, which remain trusted entry points into the category.
Beyond Wine: Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Non-alcoholic spirits have evolved beyond simple substitutes, offering complexity through botanical distillation and extraction rather than fermentation.
The Pentire range draws on coastal botanicals to create layered, savoury profiles suitable for classic serves such as highballs or aperitif-style drinks, with serving suggestions available on their website. Strangford Lough Non-Alcoholic Spirit provides a local perspective, inspired by Northern Ireland’s coastline and designed to be enjoyed simply with tonic or as a cocktail base.
Low and no alcohol is no longer a niche or seasonal category. From Dr John Forrest’s vineyard-led approach to refined de-alcoholisation and modern botanical spirits, the JN Wine portfolio reflects a considered approach to this growing segment, defined by breadth of choice and uncompromising quality.
