The 3 Best Alcohol Free Aperitifs

A dinner in France is not just dinner. It’s an event, a celebration of everyday life. As conversation flows, so too do the aperitifs, whetting the appetite for not only food but togetherness.

Those embracing a more sober or sober curious lifestyle don’t have to let go of this timeless tradition. With the rise of alcohol-free aperitifs, anyone can enjoy the aperitif lifestyle.

What Is an Alcohol-Free Aperitif?

The word “aperitif” comes from the Latin “aperire,” which means “to open.” That’s exactly what an aperitif is.

An aperitif opens your meal. This light, often dry drink is meant to tickle the senses and stoke your appetite. 

In many ways, an aperitif is its own lifestyle. How often do we sit down to a meal and immediately dive into whatever is placed in front of us? Think of how often gatherings revolve around food, how the food becomes a topic of discussion (and sometimes a bone of contention revolving around who is cooking enough and who is eating enough). The result can end up being those quiet, tension-filled meals, where the only sound is the scraping of cutlery on plates.

An aperitif invites you to rethink why you’re gathering. It’s not just a meal bringing you together. It’s a chance to reconnect. It’s an opportunity to take a moment together, slow down, and simply enjoy being with people you adore.

Aperitifs cut the tension and invite you to relax and enjoy the evening. You’re in no rush. Time flies by, but you’re not even aware. Food is secondary, though your aperitif opens your senses up more to enjoy the food more when it is time to eat.

3 Types of Alcohol-Free Aperitifs

An aperitif usually means an alcoholic beverage that’s light, dry, and not too overwhelming on the palate, but more and more alcohol-free aperitif options are hitting the shelves. Here’s a look at some alcohol-free alternatives for popular aperitif drinks.

Campari: Lyre’s Italian Orange Non-Alcoholic Aperitif

Campari is one of the most popular types of aperitifs, hailing from Italy. Unlike Aperol, which has a much sweeter profile, Campari is very strongly bitter. This bitterness works well for aperitifs, which usually lean more bitter than sweet. Typically, Campari has strong notes of orange and other citruses, as well as some cherry. It also has herbal notes and hints of spices like cloves and cinnamon.

Lyre’s offers a non-alcoholic Campari alternative with their Lyre’s Italian Orange. Though not fully alcohol-free, as it contains up to 0.3% ABV, this Campari substitute provides aperitif lovers with a low-alcohol option that bursts with citrus flavors. 

Lyre’s creates non-alcoholic spirits by mixing natural flavors together to mimic the flavors of the alcoholized favorite it’s recreating. In this way, alcohol is generally not created in the process of making their non-alcoholic aperitifs.

• Appearance: A vibrant reddish orange.

• Nose: Citrus notes and bitter herbs

• Palate: Blood orange and other citrus, bitter herbs, and maraschino cherries

• Finish: A dry, lingering citrus finish

• ABV: Less than 0.3% ABV

• Price: $37.99 for a 700 mL bottle

Vermouth: Roots Divino Aperitif Bianco

Vermouth is a wine-based, herb-infused drink that comes in two varieties. While red Vermouth is sweeter, white Vermouth is more on the dry side, making it a great option for an aperitif. 

Roots Divino makes both types of Vermouth as alcohol-free aperitif alternatives. Aperitif Bianco is on the dry side, with some hints of sour. It’s filled with herb-forward flavors, like rosemary, thyme, and wormwood.

Roots Divino makes their Vermouth by starting with sweetened wine and infusing it with herbs. Then, the mixture is dealcoholized using reverse osmosis.

• Appearance: A slightly translucent, clear liquor

• Nose: A mix of Mediterranean herbs and slight acidity

• Palate: Rosemary, thyme, wormwood, and lemon

• Finish: A bitter, lingering finish

• ABV: 0% ABV

• Price: $38.99 for a 750 mL bottle

Sparkling Wine: BEAU VIVA

Whether you’re a fan of Champagne, Prosecco, rosé, or any other sparkling wine, you’ll likely find them to be a simple, elegant aperitif option. Sparkling wines make for great aperitifs because they stimulate the appetite and have a delicate balance of dryness and sweetness. There’s also a lot of variety, which makes it easy to find one that’s perfect for your aperitif.

BEAU VIVA’s rosé-style alcohol-free sparkling wine provides that gentle appetite opener that aperitifs need. Light and invigorating, this sparkling wine hails from the South of France, from storied winemakers who have long been creating inviting aperitifs. After fermenting in stainless-steel barrels, the wine is then dealcoholized via vacuum distillation, which allows careful preservation of the wine’s delicate flavors and aromas while achieving a true 0% ABV.

• Appearance: A vibrant, light pink reminiscent of delicate rose petals in the morning sun, with a steady stream of effervescent bubbles

• Nose: A floral bouquet playing with notes of lemon, grapefruit, strawberries, and raspberries

• Palate: A complex balance of citrus and light, juicy red fruit

• Finish: Red fruit and subtle citrus before a crisp, dry finale

• ABV: 0% ABV

• Price: $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle

Embrace the Aperitif Lifestyle With BEAU VIVA

The aperitif is an important part of many European cultures, as it’s a way to celebrate everyday moments. It’s an opportunity to focus on togetherness. It’s not about what you’re doing. It’s about who you’re with.

BEAU VIVA was designed for the aperitif lifestyle. While it’s a perfect accompaniment to a Mediterranean meal, it’s also an ideal opener for any celebration. With bright red-fruit flavors and energizing citrus notes, BEAU VIVA is an alcohol-free aperitif that will help all your guests relax and enjoy their evening.

Discover your new favorite alcohol-free aperitif with BEAU VIVA.