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Updated July 22, 2026
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Worried you’ll miss out at dinner parties, want a healthier option, or need a safe drink while driving? Non-alcoholic wine gives you the ritual and flavour of wine without the alcohol – here’s how it actually works in Denmark and which bottles are worth trying.
- Typical labelling: 0.0% or <0.5% alcohol by volume. Check the bottle.
- Price range: supermarket options from budget to premium.
- Production: most are dealcoholized using vacuum distillation or reverse osmosis.
- Where to buy: supermarkets, specialist shops in Copenhagen neighborhoods, and larger stores across Denmark’s major cities. You can also find options at some airport shops.
Benefits of Non-Alcoholic Wines
Non-alcoholic wines let you keep the flavour and ritual of wine while avoiding alcohol’s effects – useful if you need to work the next morning, are pregnant, on medication, or simply reducing intake. Key practical benefits:
- Fewer calories (usually): Removing alcohol lowers calories, but watch sugar content – some dealcoholized wines add sweeteners to balance flavour.
- Safe for more situations: You can enjoy them when driving, during pregnancy (follow your midwife’s advice), or in professional settings where alcohol would be inappropriate.
- Hydration and clearer mornings: No alcohol means less dehydration and a clearer head the next day.
- Social flexibility: You can match courses, hold a toast, and participate in tastings without drinking alcohol.
How they’re made – a short primer: producers either stop fermentation early, or remove alcohol after full fermentation using techniques like vacuum distillation (gentler heat under low pressure) or reverse osmosis (filtering alcohol molecules). The result aims to keep aromatic compounds, acidity and some tannin structure but opinions vary by producer and style.
Social Inclusivity of Non-Alcoholic Wines
Non-alcoholic wine changes the social equation. In Denmark, where dinners and hygge often involve wine, offering alcohol-free choices removes awkwardness for guests who don’t drink. Practical benefits for hosts:
- Everyone can raise a glass during toasts without feeling singled out.
- Professional and family events become easier to plan because hosts don’t have to prepare separate drinks or exclude people from wine pairings.
- Restaurants and bars can include alcohol-free options to broaden their customer base and show consideration for diverse needs.
For you as a guest or host: treat non-alcoholic wine the same way you treat regular wine – chill whites, serve reds slightly below room temperature, and match intensity to food. Doing so signals that the choice is intentional and valued, not an afterthought.
A Few Brands Worth Trying
Below are producers that are available in Denmark or ship here and that represent different approaches – tea-based, de-alcoholized wine, and fruit-driven alternatives.
Arensbak
Arensbak is a Copenhagen-based project from sommelier Emilie Øst-Jacobsen and flavour designer Bram Kerkhof. Instead of simply removing alcohol from wine, they develop beverages from the ground up using techniques and ingredients (for example, white Oolong and aged Puerh teas) to emulate wine-like structure and complexity. If you want something that reads like a thoughtful wine alternative at dinner, try their more structured options.
Alain Milliat
Alain Milliat is known for very high-quality fruit juices crafted with precise harvest timing and minimal processing. While not strictly ‘wine’, his single-fruit juices provide intense, clean flavours that work remarkably well as wine substitutes at the table – especially with lighter dishes or as a palate-cleanser between courses.
Copenhagen Sparkling Tea
Founded by a former Michelin sommelier, Copenhagen Sparkling Tea creates carbonated tea-based drinks designed to function like sparkling wine. The result is a versatile, food-friendly sparkling option that performs well with desserts and celebratory toasts.
Kolonne Null
Kolonne Null partners with family wineries and focuses on capturing terroir by coordinating with growers from harvest through de-alcoholization. Their range is among the most wine-like on the market; if you want something that feels closest to a classic bottled wine in terms of origin and variety, start here.
Where to Buy and Taste Non-Alcoholic Wines in Denmark
Finding good non-alcoholic options is easier than it used to be. Look in three places:
- Supermarkets: Chains stock basic de-alcoholized wines and sparkling options. Read the label for sugar content.
- Specialist stores and wine shops: Shops in Copenhagen neighborhoods and other large towns carry curated ranges and can advise on serving and pairing.
- Online and travel retail: Many producers ship to Denmark, and some choices are available at airport shops. For regional options, check stores listed for Denmark’s major cities.
When you want to taste before buying, call ahead to wine bars or specialist shops – some run dedicated tastings of alcohol-free ranges or can open bottles for sampling.
- Check label for 0.0% or <0.5% ABV and look for sugar content per 100 ml.
- Ask staff about the production method (dealcoholized vs. never-fermented) and expected flavour profile.
- If serving, chill whites and sparklings properly and decant fuller-bodied bottles briefly to open aromas.
Insider tip: if a de-alcoholized wine tastes flat, pair it with food that adds fat, salt or acid (cheese, oily fish, vinaigrette). That contrast brings out more flavour and balance.
Buy a small bottle of a Kolonne Null or Arensbak product and taste it alongside a light dish (goats cheese or smoked fish). If you like it, note the production method on the label and use that to guide your next purchase.