Looking for a wine alternative without alcohol? You might have come to the right place, but allow me to explain. NON does not taste like wine, but is meant to be enjoyed like wine and paired with food like wine.
It’s hard to describe the NON wine alternatives. They are ambiguous in nature and equally intriguing in flavor. I enjoyed tasting them all, as if they were an art project or an experiment in food science.
An ex-Noma chef with his business partner created a new kind of beverage. NON is made by blending tea with botanicals and vegetable and fruit juices. Some are still and some are lightly carbonated through an overnight carbonation process.
Bottom line: NON 1 and NON 5 are my top picks from the flavors tasted. If you like the ritual of tasting wine, discovering new flavors, and discussing with friends, you will enjoy NON wine alternatives.
Each of the NON wine alternatives are unique and sophisticated flavor, but should probably come with a more detailed food pairing guide, as that would be the magic sauce for maximum enjoyment.
Here are the highlights of the tasting. You can click on each to jump to a more detailed description:
- NON 1 [Salted Raspberry and Chamomile] – lightly carbonated, sweet, enjoy at a picnic in the park, versatile; ice/no ice, add orange for spritz, no meal needed, similar to a healthy fruit soda or a kombucha
- NON 2 [Caramelised Pear and Kombu] – lightly carbonated, baked pear and holiday dinner all in one. Sweet and strangely savory (salt from olive brine). Weird. Has plenty of sugar but didn’t taste sweet. Holiday dinner
- NON 3 [Toasted Cinnamon and Yuzu] – still, Yuzu and a little salty. A little bit like salt fell in from your margarita rim. Ice or no ice, but i liked it on ice. In lieu of margaritas – with tacos.
- NON 4 [Roast Beetroot and Sancho] – lightly carbonated, beets, rich, umami; chilled, i like it on ice; assembly store, petillant farmhouse gose
- NON 5 [Lemon Marmalade & Hibiscus] – Lightly carbonated, floral, lemon, hops, licorice; meal or no meal, ice or no ice.
It should be noted that all of the NON drinks lean on the sweet-tasting side. They are actually low in sugar content, but still taste sweet, due to the ingredients used in the blends.
This sweetness is what makes NON less of an alternative to wine you would drink with a meal, but it can still work well if you pair it with the appropriate food. NON is also in the process of working with some restaurants to offer a non-alcoholic pairing option with their beverages.
After tasting each and having them with some food, I took notes. Below are some thoughts after tasting each NON beverage.
NON 1 [Salted Raspberry and Chamomile]
NON 1 is lightly carbonated and sweet, and it tastes like strawberry and raspberry. It’s a little bit similar to a kombucha or a high quality flavored soda water.
It is perfect for a hot day or a picnic in the park. It can be enjoyed chilled with ice or no ice, depending on preference.
Overall, for the price, I would have a hard time justifying a frequent purchase. It’s too much like drinking kombucha, but does not have the probiotics that kombucha does. Boisson carries NON wine alternatives, and this button will take you there to check the latest price:
Ingredients: Whole Raspberries, Chamomile, Murray River Salt, Organic Cane Sugar, Verjus
Nutrition: 141kJ/33 calories, Fat 0.15g, Carbohydrates 8.25g, Total Sugars 7.05g, Protein 0.15g, Sodium 121.5mg*
*Nutrition information was found on the bottle and might be subject to change.
Storage: Refrigerate after opening and consume within 2-3 days.
Store refrigerated or at cellar temperature (10-12°C). Natural sediment may occur, shake lightly before pouring.
NON 2 [Caramelised Pear and Kombu]
NON 2 is lightly carbonated, and tastes like baked fruit, specifically pear. It reminds me of a holiday meal. It is sweet and strangely savory, due to the salt in the olive brine used.
This was a strange beverage for me, and I was wishing I had more guidance for the best food to pair with it. It has plenty of sugar but does not taste sweet.
NON 2 is a holiday meal in a bottle, so I would guess Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing might be an interesting choice.
Ingredients: Whole Pears, Kombu, Ginger, Cardamom, Peppercorn, Star Anise, Black Tea, Clove, Agave, Vanilla, Olive Brine, Verjus, Filtered Water
Nutrition:112.5kJ/26.7 calories, Fat 0.15g, Carbohydrates 6.6g, Total Sugars 5.1g, Protein 0.15g, Sodium 52.5mg*
*Nutrition information was found on the bottle and might be subject to change.
Storage: Refrigerate after opening and consume within 2-3 days.
Store refrigerated or at cellar temperature (10-12°C). Natural sediment may occur, shake lightly before pouring.
NON 3 [Toasted Cinnamon and Yuzu]
NON 3 is a still beverage. It tastes of yuzu and is actually a little bit salty, the way a margarita tastes when some of the salt rim has dropped in it. It’s light and it’s fresh.
You can drink it with ice or no ice, but I preferred it on ice. Try it with tacos, as an alternative to a margarita.
Ingredients: Yuzu, Orange, Cinnamon, Murray River Salt, Organic Cane Sugar, Verjus, Filtered Water
Nutrition: 168kJ/40 calories, Fat 0.15g, Carbohydrates 9.9g, Total Sugars 8.4g, Protein 0.15g, Sodium 72mg*
*Nutrition information was found on the bottle and might be subject to change.
Storage: Refrigerate after opening and consume within 2-3 days.
Store refrigerated or at cellar temperature (10-12°C). Natural sediment may occur, shake lightly before pouring.
NON 4 [Roast Beetroot and Sancho]
NON 4 is lightly carbonated, and it’s a beet bomb. Besides tasting like beets, it is rich and has a slight umami flavor, with a hint of pepper. You can drink it chilled, but given how rich it is, I preferred it on ice.
Ingredients: Whole Beetroot, Sancho Pepper, Black Pepper, Jalapeño, Tamari, Houjicha, Bay Leaf, Murray River Salt, Verjus, Filtered Water
Nutrition: Serving Size: 150ml
91.5kJ/21.8 calories, Fat 0.15g, Carbohydrates 5.4g, Total Sugars 4.35g, Protein 0.15g, Sodium 70.5mg*
*Nutrition information was found on the bottle and might be subject to change.
Storage: Refrigerate after opening and consume within 2-3 days.
Store refrigerated or at cellar temperature (10-12°C). Natural sediment may occur, shake lightly before pouring.
NON 5 [Lemon Marmalade & Hibiscus]
Created with Assembly store, NON 5 is similar to a petillant farmhouse gose. NON 5 is lightly carbonated, smells floral and tastes like lemon,citrus notes, hops, and licorice. It can be enjoyed with or without food, and with or without ice.
I tried NON 5 with grilled bratwurst, thinking the hops might carry it as a substitute for beer or cider, and it was good. However, the hops were delicate and I found the licorice/anise a little overbearing for that particular meal, but I still enjoyed it.
Despite the unusual flavor, I kept pouring a fresh glass, and eventually I warmed up to it. Unfamiliar things can take some time to explore, similar to your first explorations in wine, spirits, and food.
Overall, NON 5 tasted sophisticated, and I would recommend enjoying it with cheese and charcuterie.
Ingredients: Citra Hops, Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass, Hibiscus, Lemon Myrtle, Licorice Root, Peppermint, Preserved Lemon, Murray River Salt, Verjus, Organic Cane Sugar, Filtered Water
Nutrition: Serving Size: 150ml | 73.5kJ/17.5 calories, Fat 0.15g, Carbohydrates 4.35g, Total Sugars 3.6g, Protein 0.15g, Sodium 139.5mg*
*Nutrition information was found on the bottle and might be subject to change.
Storage: Refrigerate after opening and consume within 2-3 days.
Store refrigerated or at cellar temperature (10-12°C). Natural sediment may occur, shake lightly before pouring.
WHERE TO BUY NON WINE ALTERNATIVES
USA: Find NON wine alternatives at Boisson, an online retailer that exclusively sells non-alcoholic beverages.
From the producer: NON.world ships within Australia and internationally.
CONCLUSION
Finally, approach these NON drinks with an open mind. While they are considered wine alternatives, the phrase is more of a hint at the experience rather than the flavor.
NON is also in the process of working with some restaurants to offer a non-alcoholic pairing option with their beverages, and I look forward to seeing how the beverages will be paired. A few recipes have been recently made available for browsing at NON.world.
I enjoy trying new things, so it was truly fun tasting through all five of these NON wine alternatives. NON 1 and NON 5 were my favorites in this tasting.
If you are unsure where to start, I recommend starting from the beginning. Grab a NON 1, chill it, then go enjoy it in the summer sun with some friends on a park blanket.
*Since tasting these wine alternatives, NON has continued to experiment and has added two more flavors to their library of beverages. Stay tuned for future tastings and reviews.
