Don’t bring booze to a dinner party - bring this instead
We all know the unwritten rule of dinner parties and social gatherings: If you’re invited to a friend’s house, you bring a bottle of wine, right? But does it always have to be alcohol? Isn’t the point of bringing a bottle of wine just the gesture of bringing something that can be shared and enjoyed together?
In a world where booze often takes center stage at social gatherings, I've opted to bring a twist to the tradition: Instead of the usual bottles of wine, I've started bringing non-alcoholic beverages, not just for myself, but also for others to sample - and often found that both the hosts and other guests were enthusiastic and excited to try the new beverages. And pretty much every time, there’s someone who is grateful to have a non-alcoholic option that’s not just soda, whether that’s because they didn’t actually want to drink that night or don’t drink at all. I have made a several pregnant dinner guests very happy this year!
In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite options for non-alcoholic alternatives that are just as festive and sophisticated as a bottle of wine and work well with a meal, as aperitifs, or after-dinner drinks. I linked each drink to Minus Moonshine, a Brooklyn-based non-alcoholic bottle shop that ships US-wide, but you can also find many of these drinks at your local bottle shop if you’re lucky enough to have one nearby!
Prima Pavé Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine
Okay, I do have to start with an actual wine - sometimes we just want to pop a bottle! Prima Pavé is my favorite de-alcoholized sparkling wine that has some amazing fermented funk to it and tastes like the real deal, goodbye sweet sparkling grape juice! Most de-alcoholized wines taste maybe the tiniest bit more acidic than real wine, but I’ve served it at events and had people come back and confirm that it’s non-alcoholic because they were so surprised at how good it was. [Shop online here]
Joni Verjus Blanc and Rouge
I have been obsessed with Joni ever since I first got to sample it at Minus Moonshine. Joni is a verjus (I call it “pre-wine”) which is made from unripe wine grapes and refined with an amazing combination of herbs like celery, basil, and tarragon for the “blanc” flavor, or cardamom and allspice for the “rouge”. It’s a little sweet but still low in sugar, and the herbal and spice flavors are just gorgeous. I love serving it in a wine glass and slowly sipping. My friend Amon absolutely adores Joni blanc and always asks me if I brought some of that “celery drink” for him. [Shop online here]
Pathfinder and Club Soda
The Pathfinder is a zero-proof amaro that’s based on fermented and distilled hemp, and it’s one of my favorite non-alcoholic spirits. A Pathfinder Spritz (1 part Pathfinder, 2 parts club soda, serve over ice with an orange twist) is an amazingly simple yet sophisticated drink. It’s bitter, sweet, herbal, and absolutely delicious. It also makes a fantastic sippable after-dinner drink served neat or on the rocks, just like a regular alcoholic amaro. [Shop online here]
Surely Bubbly Red Wine
I know that a non-alcoholic sparkling red wine sounds odd, but hear me out: This stuff is GOOD, and it’s an excellent drink to go with any kind of red sauce. Multiple people I know have called it a good “pizza wine”. It’s a little tart, heavy on the fruit without being very sweet, and just really really fun. [Shop online here]
Three Spirit Social Elixir
This is another beautiful drink to sip on after a meal. It reminds me of a fortified wine, maybe a port, that would go well with dessert. The Social Elixir contains different types of adaptogens like damiana that are supposed to make you feel a “little floaty and flirty” - personally, I drink it for the taste, but if it does something for you, even better! Keep in mind that this beverage contains adaptogens which some people might want to avoid - check the ingredient label to see if there are any interactions with medications or any known concerns for pregnant people. [Shop online here]
Figlia Fiore Frizzante
Figlia is another wonderful red aperitif that reminds me of classics like Ghia - it’s bitter, a little tart, and has strong notes of bitter orange and clove. While their bottled “Fiore” aperitif is delicious, I also really enjoy the single serve cans of their “frizzante”, a sparkling version with a little squeeze of lemon. This is a great drink to sip one before or with dinner! [Shop online here]
Conclusion
As you prepare to attend your next dinner party as a guest, remember that a delightful evening is not only defined by alcoholic beverages. We’re truly in the golden age of non-alcoholic drinks, and this post only touched on a small selection of my personal favorites. There are so many more options out there to explore and share with your friends!
