From low carb to low alc, here’s how to drink differently this season:
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01Non alcoholic
02Lower in alcohol
03Low sugar and low carb
Hit List|Lager|Sparkling|Red Wine

From low carb to low alc, here’s how to drink differently this season

Read time 6 Mins

Posted 19 Dec 2024

By
Emily Reed

A selection of drinks with Christmas baubles on green carpet

Life’s all about balance, but there’s no need to sacrifice quality when you’re cutting down.

Living it up over the holiday period is inevitable. It’s probably got something to do with being surrounded by your favourite people, not knowing what day it is because work couldn’t be further from your mind, and spending warm summer evenings under the stars (accompanied by a citronella candle to keep mozzies at bay). Life. Is. Good.

It can, however, be easy to tip-toe into over-indulgence territory, so we’ve curated a selection of stellar non-alcoholic, low-alcohol, low-sugar and low-carb beverages to help you pace yourself this season. With no compromise on flavour, just good vibes and delicious drinks, you can (mindfully) make the most of this time of year.

Jump To
01Non alcoholic
02Lower in alcohol
03Low sugar and low carb
Non-alcoholic drinksThe non-alcoholic drinks category is booming. Recent data from DrinkWise indicates that 62% of individuals over 25 feel more empowered to choose alcohol-free beverages, and 53% intend to reduce alcohol consumption during festive occasions. With so many social events on the calendar at this time of year, finding the right balance is a great idea. Fortunately, there’s a great selection of non-alcoholic options these days, so you can always enjoy a refreshing drink that isn’t just soda water. Here are a few of our favourites.
Freixenet Alcohol Removed Sparkling Rosé

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1. Freixenet Alcohol Removed Sparkling Rosé

The first thing you’ll notice about this non-alcoholic sparkling rosé is its convincingly wine-like fizz and appearance. Sometimes, half the battle in finding a tasty non-alc drop is that it doesn’t look or taste like the real deal. The good news? This one does. Crafted in the Penedès region of Spain, it’s produced by fermenting selected grapes to create a base wine with 10% alcohol by volume. The alcohol is then gently removed through vacuum distillation at 40 degrees Celsius, preserving the wine's natural aromas and flavours. This method ensures that the final product maintains the quality and character of traditional sparkling rosé and only an alcohol content between 0 and 0.05%. With very well-balanced acidity and medium-sized bubbles, it offers a refreshing mouthfeel and a pleasantly fresh and fruity palate.

2. Bridge Road Brewers Free Time Alcohol Free Pale Ale

The crew at Bridge Road Brewers know a thing or two about crafting great beer. Since 2005, the independent family-owned brewery has produced everything from traditional ales to experimental brews. From humble beginnings in the family's shed, the brand has since grown into a prominent name in the Australian craft beer scene. Using their brewing expertise, they’ve created this pale ale that delivers everything you love about a Bridge Road brew – sans the alcohol. Vibrant and refreshing, it features a juicy hop aroma, low bitterness and clean finish, making it the perfect choice for those looking to crack open a cold one without the ABV.
Bridge Road Brewers Free Time Alcohol Free Pale Ale

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NON 3 Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu

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3. NON 3 Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu

There’s plenty to love about Melbourne-based wine producer NON. Their sophisticated, alcohol-free beverages are anything but boring – and their dedication to creating unexpected flavours is second to none. Take their Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu non-alcoholic alternative. This still (non-carbonated) drop delivers a complex flavour profile, starting with dehydrated oranges that develop rich caramelised and candied notes. A five-hour infusion of orange pith adds a touch of bitterness, while orange skins give it a waxy mouthfeel. The sharp, sour yuzu enhances the citrus complexity, while cinnamon offers lingering spice and tannin. Finally, verjus from Barossa Valley semillon grapes brings a balancing acidity. It’s not wine, but it’s not trying to be – this is in a class all of its own.

4. Tread Softly Everything Except Pinot Noir

If a barbecue is on the cards and you’re after a non-alcoholic red wine, Tread Softly Everything Except Pinot Noir is a must-try. Crafted in South Australia from locally sourced grapes, this vibrant, full-bodied alternative features flavours of dark berries balanced by earthy notes. Its smooth, delicate mouthfeel and dry finish make it a standout choice for those skipping the alc. Plus, Tread Softly’s eco-conscious ethos is worth a shoutout – they plant an Australian native tree for every six bottles sold. We love to see it. Serve a glass of this chilled and thank us later.
Tread Softly Everything Except Pinot Noir

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Lower-alcohol drinksWe’ve pulled together an edit of wines and beers with a lower alcohol content than their traditional counterparts. Essentially, if you lined up almost all the wines and/or beers at Dan’s from highest to lowest ABV, you’d find the following drinks at the lower-alcohol end. These are a solid choice when you fancy a wine, beer or perhaps a ginger beer, but you’re keeping an eye on the ABV.
Lienert Estate PIQ Piqpoul

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1. Lienert Estate PIQ Piqpoul

Known as the ‘Official Oyster Wine’ in its home of southern France, picpoul does in fact go down a treat with freshly shucked oysters, especially when they get a generous squeeze of lemon for good measure. It’s also naturally lower in alcohol than other varieties – and an excellent companion for mussels, abalone, clams and pipis. Think of picpoul as a bit like a riesling, but with an ocean mist character about it. Sounds exotic, right? Lienert Estate’s PIQ Piqpoul is a fresh, dry white that’s crisp and refreshing, featuring strong citrus notes, complemented by saline acidity. Made in the Barossa Valley and coming in at 9.5% ABV, with fewer standard drinks per bottle than a traditional wine, this is a great white summer sipper.

2. South Island White Mist Pinot Noir

White Mist Pinot Noir hails from Central Otago in New Zealand, a region celebrated for its downright delicious takes on this red wine variety. This wine features delicate notes of red fruits and dark plums, flowing into a medium-bodied palate with juicy fruit flavours and smooth, subtle tannins. In other words, it’s everything you love about a stellar pinot. With a lower alcohol content of 9% ABV, it’s an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy a flavourful yet lighter pinot noir. Plus, its soft tannins pair perfectly with lamb or turkey. Christmas lunch wine? Consider it sorted.
South Island White Mist Pinot Noir

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3. Travla Mid Strength Lager

Brewed using all Australian ingredients, Travla’s mid-strength lager will be right at home in your campsite esky over the summer break. Founded by Aussie actor Travis Fimmel (remember Vikings?), you just can’t go past that cheeky kangaroo on the can. Its flavour profile is clean and crisp, with mild fruitiness and smooth bitterness – and at 3.5% ABV, this is designed for those seeking a lighter beer that doesn’t compromise on flavour. A solid all-rounder if ever we’ve seen one – and just 89 calories and ultra-low carbs to boot, in case you’re keeping an eye on that, too.

4. Matsos Lower Sugar Ginger Beer

Another refreshing bevvy that’s both low in sugar and ABV (3.5%) is Matso’s Lower Sugar Ginger Beer. Summer gatherings and ginger beer go hand-in-hand in our books, and this one from Matso’s delivers all the bold gingery goodness you can’t get enough of: zesty flavour and just the right amount of heat. It’s also free from artificial sweeteners and preservatives, and it’s vegan-friendly, too. Light, crisp and packed with flavour, it’s the perfect flavour to keep the good vibes flowing all summer long.
Matsos Lower Sugar Ginger Beer

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Low-sugar and low-carb drinksIt may not always be so clear, but low-sugar and low-carb drinks aren’t the same thing. While sugar is a type of carbohydrate, not all carbs are sugar. A drink can be low in sugar but still contain other carbs like fibre or starch. To put it simply: ‘low sugar’ specifically reduces sugar content, whereas ‘low carb’ cuts total carbohydrate content, including sugars and other carbs. As a rule of thumb, if you're avoiding added sugar, opt for sugar-free soft drinks or tonics – and soda water is your mate when mixing with spirits.
Hard Rated No Sugar Cans

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1. Hard Rated No Sugar Cans

Zero carbs and zero sugar? Hard Rated has you covered. Bursting with zesty lemon-lime flavour and delivering a refreshing citrus hit, it’s no surprise this drink is a popular choice for those seeking a lighter option. Perfect for sipping all summer long (and beyond!), Hard Rated No Sugar proves that zero-carb and zero-sugar drinks don’t have to miss out on bold flavour.

2. 1800 Cristalino Tequila

Tequila makes it into this list because many pure spirits with high alcohol volume don’t contain any carbs (which convert into sugar). Once you start adding mixers and fruit juices to the mix, your sugar or carb intake can quickly creep up. If you’re trying to avoid that sugar hit, your best bet is to top the spirit with soda water and a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime, or opt for a light tonic water to keep sugar levels at bay. Our current favourite is 1800 Cristalino Tequila: an añejo expression meticulously filtered through activated charcoal, resulting in a clear, velvety spirit that still packs a rich, full-bodied flavour profile. If it sounds premium, that’s because it is.
1800 Cristalino Tequila

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3. Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Champagne Brut Nature

Yes, you can still enjoy a glass of wine if you’re being mindful of carbs – it just comes down to the type of wine you drink. Since all alcohol is derived from sugar, there's no such thing as sugar-free wine. Although, there are low-carb wines that don't contain any added sugars. Still with us? The sugar content (and therefore carb content) in wine is affected by several factors, including when the fruit is harvested. Grapes left on the vine longer, for example, become sweeter with higher sugar levels (riesling is a classic late-harvest wine). When looking for low-sugar wine, always opt for dry wine (meaning ‘not sweet’). That in mind, Brut nature Champagne (followed by extra brut, then brut) has the lowest sugar content at just 0g to 3g per litre. Dry reds are your next best bet, followed by dry whites. But this Joseph Perrier Champagne is an easy choice – bone-dry and extremely delish.

4. Byron Bay Brewery Ultra Zero Carb

This thoughtfully crafted beer is designed with low-carb seekers in mind – but that doesn’t mean the team at Byron Bay Brewery has done away with flavour. On the contrary, this lager delivers a smooth body, a unique citrus hop character and a crisp, refreshing finish. With a lower alcohol content than many other lagers on the market (3.5% ABV, equating to 0.9 standard drinks per 330mL bottle), it’s a balanced choice for those looking to enjoy a lighter beer.
Byron Bay Brewery Ultra Zero Carb

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Keen to find tasty non-alcoholic drinks that are way better than soft drinks? We have a heap of standouts that you can find in-store.
Shop related products
FreixenetAlcohol Removed Sparkling Rose
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Alcohol Removed Sparkling Rose
$18.99 each
 
Bridge Road BrewersFree Time Alcohol Free Pale Ale Can 355mL
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Free Time Alcohol Free Pale Ale Can 355mL
Member Offer
$12 per pack of 4Non-Member: $14.99 pack (4)
 
NonNON 3 Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu
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NON 3 Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu
$29.99 each
 
Tread SoftlyEverything Except Pinot Noir
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Everything Except Pinot Noir
$15.99 Each
 
South IslandWhite Mist Pinot Noir
White Mist Pinot Noir
$19.99 each
 
image credits: Shelley Horan (photography), Bridget Wald (styling).
Authour image
Emily ReedEmily is a Melbourne-based writer partial to a good pét nat. Her hobbies include lining up songs on Spotify at house parties and hovering near cheese platters.
Tags
Hit ListZero% (non-alc)Low CarbGinger beerLagerSparklingRed WineBeerWineLow alcoholWhite WineChampagne
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