Across Australia and around the world, more and more people are choosing to cut back on alcohol or go without it altogether. In step with this global shift, a whole new category of drinks has emerged: alcohol alternatives.

These aren’t just “drinks without booze.” They’re innovative, unique and sophisticated beverages designed to offer the same kind of multi-sensory experience you might enjoy from a fine wine, craft beer, or cocktail but without the alcohol.

What Are Alcohol Alternatives?

Rather than trying to hide or replace the taste of alcohol, these drinks celebrate their own unique flavours. They can be more delicate and nuanced, taking you on a sensory journey: watching the play of colour as it’s poured, hearing the gentle fizz as it swirls in your glass, inhaling fragrant aromatics, and savouring complex flavours that might be cool and fresh one moment, warm and spicy the next.

Some even replicate the “heat” you get from alcohol, a subtle spice that travels down to your belly, tricking your senses into thinking you might be sipping the real thing.

Importantly, alcohol alternatives are not the same as alcohol-free wines, beers, or ciders. Those drinks go through the same fermentation process as their alcoholic counterparts, then have the alcohol removed and the flavours adjusted to mimic the originals.
Alcohol alternatives, on the other hand, are built from the ground up. They start with pure water, then layers of flavour are crafted through ingredients like herbs, spices, botanicals, fruits, teas, and more — much like a chef composes a complex dish.

Think of them as a liquid degustation: carefully imagined, tested, and refined by culinary innovators who want what’s in your glass to perfectly complement what’s on your plate.

Pregnant women have taste buds too!

NON is one of the world’s most successful and innovate pioneers in wine alternatives. Its founder, Aaron Trotman, was inspired after his pregnant wife enjoyed an exquisite non-alcoholic pairing at The Clove Club in London. Determined to recreate that magic at home, Aaron began experimenting in his kitchen. Friends loved the results so much that bottling for fun quickly became a booming business and NON was born.

When we visited NON’s HQ in Cheltenham, Melbourne, we were blown away by the science and artistry behind each flavour. Proof we went: is in the picture to the left; that’s Ingrid Segota, our Partnerships Executive Director, on the left and me (Karina Joyce, Founder/CEO) on the right.

With seven different flavours available, there’s a NON for every occasion from an afternoon cheese platter, to a pork roast dinner, to fish and chips by the sea.

Ingrid’s pick: NON 2 – Caramelised Pear & Kombu. An alcohol alternative to a traditional French farmhouse cider, made with ginger, cardamom, peppercorn, star anise, black tea, clove, agave, vanilla, olive brine, and verjus. Perfect with pork or charcoal-grilled chicken.

My pick: NON 7 – Stewed Cherry & Coffee. Reminiscent of a dry Lambrusco, this lightly sparkling, full-bodied creation blends sour cherry, spice, and the richness of cold brew coffee. The hint of garam masala gave a warming finish that felt like sitting in a log cabin, indulging in tiramisu by the fire.

Where science meets alchemy

Our tour of NON HQ gave us a deeper appreciation of the mastery that goes into blending a consistent and unique alcohol alternative. The facility is part fully functioning chef’s kitchen, part distillery with towering tanks and state-of-the-art water cooling technology, part warehouse and part showroom. Imagination meets the laboratory as truckloads of fresh fruit are ripened in a precision regime, 150+ natural ingredients are procured from all over the world, measured, cooked, added in sequence and blended to create delicate flavours that create complex, layered stories as they are sipped.

Another pioneering brand, Altina mix it up, with some of their wines being made from a blend of de-alcoholised wines and botanicals. However, if honest 0.0% alcohol is what you’re looking for, they have ready to drink (RTD) wine alternatives in a can.

Created from native botanicals such as rosella, Australian riberry, forestberry, roasted wattleseed, rose petals and hibiscus flowers, the Altina RTDs are the perfect accompaniment to throw in your picnic basket or wine cooler.

The sneaky little ingredient added to each of these is cayenne pepper, which gives you the same sensation of warmth as the delicious liquid works its way though your body – making you feel you are truly savouring an adult drink!

Altina’s RTD range includes:

La Vie En Rose – Crisp Rose Bubbles – The perfect blend of delicate Pink Rose Petals and the subtle tang of Hibiscus Flowers. Finished with crisp notes while lingering in the sweetness of Orange and Apple Tarte.

Le Blanc – Elegant White Bubbles – The perfect blend of vibrant Native Australian Forestberry, earthy roasted Wattleseed and crisp Apple. A light and refreshing finish with the lingering warmth of cayenne and dry Green Tea.

Sansgria – Vibrant Ruby Bubbles – The perfect blend of bold red fruits, Native Australian Riberry and lively citrus notes. A complex and refreshing finish with a hint of spice and vanilla notes.

Want something a little more “spirited”?

While NON and Altina focus on wine alternatives, Seedlip is the pioneer of alcohol-free spirits. While their branding features stunning artwork, take a closer look, you’ll see each drink’s ingredients hiding within the images. Made to be enjoyed with mixers, these are the perfect way to wind down at the end of the working day or use to add flair to your favourite alcohol-free cocktail.

Seedlip’s blends are purely botanical and each one has its own distinctive personality:

Garden 108 – Like a stroll through a country garden, with fresh herbal and floral notes. Perfect for an AF mojito or as a refreshing gin-free G&T.

Grove 42 – A bright, citrus blend of Mediterranean orange, lemon peel, lemongrass, and ginger. Ideal for a sunny afternoon with fruit and cheese.

Spice 94 – Warming allspice and cardamom balanced with citrus top notes and a long, bittersweet finish. Great in an espresso mocktini or an alcohol-free eggnog.

Tips for Trying Alcohol Alternatives

If you’re new to this category, here’s the secret:

Let go of expectations. If you’re hunting for a perfect replica of your favourite shiraz or gin, you might be disappointed.

Think about pairing before you open a bottle. Each label has suggestions of the cuisine and flavours each beverage will work best with. Just as you are more likely to open a bottle of sauvignon blanc to enjoy with your seafood, you’ll want to try a NON 5: Lemon, Marmalade and Hibiscus. If you’re about to cut into a sizzling sirloin steak, crack open a bottle of NON 9: Oaked Blackberry and Plum.

See it as an taste adventure. If you arrive with an open mind and a curious palate with each sip, you’ll discover a world of unique, intriguing flavours.

So, cheers to a sipping alternative that your health will appreciate as much as your tastebuds! Make sure you also check out our AF venues across Australia HERE.