How to Choose the Perfect Non-Alcoholic Substitute for Prosecco

Where would brunch be today without Prosecco? It’s hard to think of a mimosa without its best friend, the dry yet lightly sweet Prosecco. However, just because you’re taking a break from having alcohol doesn’t mean brunch and mimosas are off-limits.

Looking for the best non-alcoholic Prosecco substitute? Prosecco is a unique category of sparkling wines. The right non-alcoholic sparkling wine will have the flavors and aromas you’ve come to expect from Prosecco, but what exactly makes Prosecco what it is?

What Makes Prosecco Prosecco?

You might have heard that Champagne can’t be called Champagne unless it’s made in the Champagne region of France. However, there are actually many types of region-specific wines out there, including Prosecco.

While Champagne has a rather long list of restrictions on what can be labeled a Champagne, Prosecco is a little simpler. There are actually just two restrictions, but they’re a little complicated and controversial.

The two rules are: 

1. The wine must be made with at least 85% Glera grapes.

2. The wine must be made in the Prosecco DOC, a large region in northeast Italy.

Sounds simple, right? Not so much. Consorzio di Tutela della Denominazione di Origine Controllata Prosecco (Consortium for the Protection of the Controlled Designation of Origin Prosecco) was established to set the rules on what can be called Prosecco. 

They take their role very seriously, to the point of bringing Australian winemakers to court for exporting sparkling wine labeled as Prosecco. The consortium won that fight, reinforcing that winemakers need to be careful about their labeling.

As of the early 2020s, the consortium also protects a pink alternative to Prosecco called Prosecco Rosé. While still hailing from the same region of Italy, Prosecco Rosé is also made from Glera grapes, but this rosé’s base wine also includes Pinot Noir grapes.

How to Choose a Non-Alcoholic Prosecco Substitute

Very rarely will you see a “non-alcoholic Prosecco” on the shelves. It’s much more common for non-alcoholic wine producers to place their offering under the more general category of “sparkling wine.” If you’re scouring the shelves for non-alcoholic Prosecco, you might be looking for a while. You might also end up walking past tons of non-alcoholic sparkling wines that make for a great non-alcoholic Prosecco substitute.

However, not all non-alcoholic sparkling wines are made in Prosecco’s image. How do you find a sparkling wine that is a perfect Prosecco substitute? When choosing a non-alcoholic Prosecco alternative, consider:

• Palate: Prosecco is typically on the fruity side, with notes of green apple, honeydew, and pear. When choosing a non-alcoholic Prosecco alternative, look at the wine’s tasting notes and compare them to what you’d expect from Prosecco.
  
  For those looking for a non-alcoholic Prosecco Rosé, you generally want to look for a sparkling wine that has those green apple notes, as well as red berries and citrus notes. It also has light floral notes.

• Sweetness: Prosecco wines are generally on the dry, brut side. However, the grapes they come from give Prosecco its natural sweetness. Look for a non-alcoholic Prosecco substitute that is also dry and low in sugar. Ideally, look for one that specifically doesn’t have added sugar, as that means the wine only has residual sugar from the grapes. The grapes themselves will be able to shine through, without being bogged down by unnecessary sweetness.
  
  If you’re going the Prosecco Rosé route, you still want to look for one with little sugar, particularly no added sugar. Although Prosecco Rosés generally taste sweeter than standard Proseccos, that’s because of the addition of the Pinot Noir grapes, not because of a higher sugar content.

• Dealcoholization Method: In order to make non-alcoholic wine, most winemakers go through the initial winemaking process first, allowing the grape juice to ferment and create alcohol, as well as the complex flavors you’d expect from wine. 

From there, they need to find a way to remove that alcohol content while still keeping the flavors and aromas intact. Different winemakers use different dealcoholization processes, so look for a non-alcoholic Prosecco substitute that uses one known to preserve the wine’s quality, like vacuum distillation. 

• ABV: If you’re choosing a non-alcoholic Prosecco alternative, you may be abstaining from alcohol. However, not all non-alcoholic sparkling wines are actually alcohol free. For something to be labeled “non-alcoholic” in the United States, it can have an ABV of up to 0.5%. 

While that may not be a lot of alcohol, any alcohol can create a problem for some people who may be abstaining. If you need a Prosecco substitute that doesn’t have any alcohol, always double-check the ABV before you buy, even if the label says non-alcoholic.

Discover the Best Non-Alcoholic Prosecco Rosé Substitute

While the protected classifications of Prosecco and Prosecco Rosé may be somewhat recent, both of these sparkling wines have a long, storied history in Italy and throughout the world. As more and more people are forgoing alcohol, winemakers are working to make these long-beloved wines accessible to the non-drinking public with non-alcoholic sparkling wines that make for perfect non-alcoholic Prosecco substitutes.

With a bright pink hue, subtle floral notes, and the fresh, rich flavor of red fruits and citrus, BEAU VIVA is a perfect non-alcoholic substitute for Prosecco Rosé. First fermented in stainless steel vats, BEAU VIVA then undergoes vacuum distillation, which carefully preserves the wine’s delicate flavors and aromas. The result is a true 0% ABV, making it safe for anyone to drink and making it easier than ever to celebrate your way.

Discover the best Prosecco Rosé non-alcoholic alternative, BEAU VIVA.