Nonalcoholic Wine vs Traditional Wine: Similarities and Differences

If you’re wondering how nonalcoholic wine compares to traditional wine beyond the ABV, you’re not alone. From how it’s made to how (and when) it’s used, here’s what sets them apart—and what they still share.

What’s the Same

1. The Grapes
Just like traditional wine, non-alcoholic wine starts with real wine grapes—in our case its Marsanne grapes grown in Lodi. For both types of wine, the quality of the vineyard and characteristics of the varietal are crucial to the flavors that end up in the final blend. 

2. The Winemaking Process
Fermentation, aging, blending—it all happens before the alcohol is removed. That means NA wine develops the same complexity, acidity, and structure as its traditional counterpart. 

3. The Ritual
You still get the swirl, the sniff, the sip. The wine glass. The cheers. NA wine is about inclusion, not restriction—so whether you’re at a dinner party, on a picnic blanket, or winding down after work, the moment stays sacred.

What’s Different

1. You Can’t Cook With It
If a recipe calls for wine, you can’t swap in nonalcoholic wine and get the same results. In cooking, wine is used because of the way the alcohol interacts with other ingredients or because of the flavor it adds. While you can’t cook with nonalcoholic wine, we love to sip on a glass of Tomorrow Cellars while we’re sautéing.
  
2.  When and Where You Drink It
Nonalcoholic wine fits into more moments—like lunch breaks, weeknights, workouts, or morning brunches. It's not just for 5 p.m. anymore. That’s part of the magic: same ritual, more possibilities.

3. It’s Lower in Calories 
A large percentage of the calories in a glass of wine come from the alcohol itself. A typical glass of white wine has 120 calories. When you remove the alcohol, you naturally get a lower calorie beverage. A glass of Tomorrow Cellars Rhône Blanc has 20 calories. 

The Bottom Line 
We’re not here to tell you nonalcoholic wine is better than traditional wine—just that it’s different and fits into your life in different ways. We love to enjoy N.A. and traditional wine, it all depends on what our next day looks like and how we want to feel in the moment and later. Cheers to choices!