Wine with Leslie: De-alcoholised wines have improved enormously
I do like to look on the new year as a time for renewal and change, but this usually entails exploring new wine regions and grape varieties, not wine-like substances with the alcohol removed. Picture: iStock.
Happy 2026, and no, of course I’m not doing dry January or any other penance, I was good last year so I don’t see why I should punish myself.
I do like to look on the new year as a time for renewal and change, but this usually entails exploring new wine regions and grape varieties, not wine-like substances with the alcohol removed.
De-alcoholised wines have improved enormously, of course and if you really must you can try Hollow Leg and Leitz Ein-Zwei-Zero (the two best I’ve found).
But do also look to kefir and kombucha as an alternative, or better still, try making your own. Brands I like include King of Kefir and Bkultured.
This summer, I tried the Hytropics range and found them intriguing (hytropics.com).
They have a fruity-salty freshness with added electrolytes and vitamin B to help hydration after sport or exercise (which I intend doing more of in 2026, promise). I’m sceptical about electrolytes, as is anyone that has seen the hilariously prophetic movie Idiocracy, but they can’t hurt.
So, now that I’ve mentioned a couple of healthy things, below are some styles of wine suited to depressing, colder weather.
At the time of writing, I can see that Dunnes Stores have all their Christmas offers running until January 6, should you have need of Champagne in the coming months (Pommery for €50 is a great price).
O’Briens also have some nice offers on wines I’ve featured before, such as Tayu Pinot Noir (€20) and Gaia Assyrtiko €18)
Red wine sales have been dropping in historic regions like the Southern Rhône in recent years, while whites have remained steadier.
So, one prediction for 2026 is that we will drink more whites and I will try to feature more.
Three lesser-seen grapes below, all of which are guaranteed to make January more palatable.
This is on offer until January 6 in Dunnes, as is the red version, plus all pre-Christmas specials.
Red Rhône sales are down but white Rhône sales are up so expect to see more in the coming years as winemakers convert.
This is 60% viognier plus roussanne, marsanne and others,white flowers, peach and apricot aromas, fruity and rounded balanced by citrus freshness. A little charmer. Try with spaghetti alle vongole or moules-frites.
Dunnes Stores; Independents
Lingenfelder wines have appeared before but Georg Lingenfelder’s Georg is the next generation and has been creating energetic natural wines since 2020.
Sylvaner can be rather mute but not if you give it some skin contact, as here: pear, mature apple and lemon balm aromas, fleshy and pure with texture and layers of tangy apple skin and fleshy white fruits. A fine match for, say mushroom risotto or rigatoni al forno.
O’Briens
I adore Cab Franc and this will ease you into the grape if you have yet to explore Loire versions. From 1,090m altitude with warm days and cool nights.
Dark purple centre, elderberry and dark fruit aromas with a touch of tomato leaf; fruity, crunchy and brightly juicy with fine concentration and a pleasing fruit-freshness balance. Try with pork belly, pizza or prosciutto.
1601; World Wine Wines; 64 Wines; Sweeneys D3; theallotment.ie
You don’t have to skimp on luxuries in 2026, what with Lough Gill hand-roasting macadamia nuts in their kitchen for you. Pouring a rich nutty brown with a milky (almondy) head, this rich brown ale is nutty, malty and darkly fruity with a rounded creamy palate; chocolate, raisins, hoppy freshness and general deliciousness.
Foleys Sligo; Martins; craftcentral.ie; loughgill.com; Bradleys; Matsons.
