The Best 0% Alcohol Picks of 2024

It’s the fastest growing drinks category in the universe, and as our judges discovered, the quality of non-alcoholic wines, beers and ciders on offer in New Zealand is absolutely on the up!

Here at dish we’re 100% behind alternatives to alcohol, because not only are they healthier, these days they’re also a heck of a lot tastier! Thank goodness non-drinking adults are no-longer relegated to a ‘kiddies table’ list of water, juice or sweet, flabby mocktails now that brewers, distillers and winemakers all around the world have the technology to craft tipples that actually look like a drink, taste like a drink, yet don’t pack a boozy punch. Having adult-designed, non-alcoholic options is an excellent way of catering for everyone, and much of the chat out there over the bars and BBQ tongs is that for lots of people they’re not looking to totally banish booze from their lives, they’re just paying closer attention to how much they’re consuming and are having a crack at managing it.

Our judges asked to see 0% beers, wines and ciders from New Zealand producers and distributors and we were chuffed with not only the number of entries, but with the incredible leap in flavour quality. We were hoping to find medal-quality examples, but to find two golds, a clutch of silvers and lots of bronze medals was incredibly exciting!

It’s important to note that our judges all agreed that the white wines, ciders and beers should be super-chilled to accentuate their aromatics, fruit complexity and hoppy freshness and the judges also passed comment that even the reds, (pinot noir, syrah and shiraz) which were entered, could, on a hot day, benefit from a slight chill-down too. But weather-talk aside, welcome to the new wave of non- alcoholic superstars – bottoms up!

1. McGuigan ZERO Sparkling NV ($13.99) – Gold Medal

Wow! We were not expecting to find a gold medal winning wine, let alone a sparkling one! The McGuigan has such delicious lemon and apple delicacy and balance and all three judges wrote words like “clean”, “refreshing” and “refined” for this outstanding non-alc sparkler.. Serve super-chilled. Blackmarket.co.nz

2. Garage Project Tiny XPA 330ml ($4.00) – Gold Medal

“Lordy! Here’s a beer our judges kept going back to. With its lifted, lemony nose, rich, complex, yeasty notes, its grapefruit pip and pine bitterness, deliciously solid mid-palate weight and its lengthy finish – it’s a total eyepopper”. Garageproject.co.nz

3. State of Play Nectaron Unfiltered Pale Ale 330ml x 6 ($20.00) Silver Medal

State of major playerness here! Boasting a punchy-fresh, vibrantly hoppy, peachy, pilsner-eque, nose and a full, rich, creamy- complex palate with boldly layered bitterness. Superbly satisfying and a really exciting style. Available in Supermarkets.

4. McGuigan ZERO Chardonnay NV $13.99 – Silver Medal

Well hooray! Finally we have a banger of a non-alcoholic chardonnay to enjoy! Our judges (all massive chardonnay fans) unanimously agreed that this. Is. A. Game changer. With its smoky nose, lots of toasty, lingering oak and buckets of lovely ripe stonefruit notes, rich, creamy, nutty textures and weight to the finish, it’s a great alternative. Blackmarket.co.nz

5. Epic Super Zero IPA 330ml x 6 ($21.99) – Silver Medal

A lipsmackingly good brew bursting with high tropical and citrus pith notes, which combine with upfront creaminess and an impressively bitter back palate. “Solid beer” and “very well made” were unanimous tasting notes among our judges. Nice one Epic, tasty stuff indeed. Glengarrywines.co.nz

6. Good George Virtual Reality Non-Alcoholic Hazy IPA 330ml x 6 ($19.99) – Silver Medal

Good gracious Good George! With its intensely fresh citrus nose, its burst of biscuity malt and the fact that it roars with resinous hops, this is a full-bodied style that’s refreshingly balanced in the mid-palate. Aromatic and complex it has great length of flavour, a nice bitter finish and great longevity. Widely available in supermarkets.

7. Sawmill Brewery Bare Beer Non-Alcoholic Hazy IPA 330ml x 6 ($20.99) – Silver Medal

Fresh malty notes merge with a twang of tropical hops, peachy aromas, solid bitterness in the mid palate to create a nicely balanced, very drinkable Hazy beer boasting biscuity complexity to finish. Sawmillbrewery.co.nz

8. Zeffer Crisp Passionfruit Cider 0% 330ml x 4 ($14.00) – Bronze Medal

One of the originators in the zero-alc cider- sphere, Zeffer’s crisp passionfruit cider is gorgeously golden in the glass, stayed fizzy for an exceptionally long time and showed clean, pure passionfruit flavours without any OTT sweetness. Available in supermarkets.

9. Plus & Minus Shiraz 2022 ($15.99) – Bronze Medal

With its sweet entry of dark fruits, smoke, caramelised oak and soft spices, this red wine had our judges nodding in acknowledgement of its smoothness, its blackcurrant backbone and impressive warmth and weight. Available in supermarkets.

10. Paulaner Weissbier 0.0% Non-Alcoholic 500ml ($4.00) – Bronze Medal

How good is it that the number 1 Weissbier in Germany and one of the world’s favourites is now available in a zero-alcohol version. Impressive persistence of head, it’s a rich, biscuity, malt-forward style that’s soothing and softly sweet. Characterful and sippable. Winedirect.co.nz

11. State of Play IPA 330ml x 6 ($20.99) – Bronze Medal

State of Play have been making the zero-beer sphere more beer-able since ages ago, so it’s great to see another of their styles in the medal-mix. With its energetic malty complexity, its lacing of fresh hops and its impressive length of flavour – it’s a goodie. Available in supermarkets.

12. Lost Garden Zero Hawke's Bay Rose 2023 ($20.00) – Bronze Medal

Crisp, dry, laced with soft spices, this ballet- shoe pink wine is scented with apple and pink peppercorn notes and boasts a bright, cherry-pinged palate. Nicely made. Trinityhill.com

13. McGuigan ZERO Shiraz NV ($13.99) – Bronze Medal

Ripe red fruits merge with hints of nutmeg, pepper and cocoa. Lightly styled but very shiraz-like in its blackcurrant backbone and nicely balanced oak. Juicy and refreshing. Available in supermarkets.

14. Lost Garden Zero Hawke's Bay Shiraz 2022 ($20.00) – Bronze Medal

Definitely resembles Hawke’s Bay cooler climate syrah in the glass, with layers of dark cherry, blueberry and earthy, toasty notes, its tannins give extra oomph to the finish. Trinityhill.com

(NB: All wines are judged blind and the scores of winemaker judges for their own wines cannot exceed those of other judges)