Sponsored · Presented by Wine Spectator in partnership with participating wineries.

Presented by

Wine Spectator

The Balanced Glass

Wines for the way we drink now

The fastest-growing question in wine is not what to drink, but how much. A new generation of non-alcoholic, lower-alcohol, and better-for-you wines is answering it, without asking anyone to give up the glass.

The selection

The Shift

Mindful, not moderate

For most of wine's modern history, the conversation was about more: bigger reds, higher alcohol, the next ninety-point bottle. The conversation has changed. Drinkers are asking sharper questions about what is in the glass and how it fits a life that also includes early mornings, training plans, and the simple desire to feel good the next day.

This is not the temperance movement returning. The people leading this shift love wine. They want the ritual, the pairing, the place a good bottle holds at the table. What they want is a version that meets them where they are: lighter, cleaner, lower in alcohol or free of it entirely, and never lower in pleasure.

The category has finally caught up. Non-alcoholic wine no longer means grape juice. Lower-alcohol no longer means watered down. The wines on these pages are proof that balance can be measured in more than one way.

1 in 3

U.S. adults actively moderating their drinking

+30%

Annual growth in the no- and low-alcohol category

2026

The year better-for-you wine goes mainstream

FitVine Free
No. 01The Non-Alcoholic Edit
FitVine Free

FitVine Free

All the flavor. None of the alcohol.

Non-alcoholic wine shouldn't feel like a compromise. FitVine Free was created for people who want to stay present, feel good, and still enjoy the ritual of wine, without the alcohol.

Where many non-alcoholic wines start as finished wine and strip the alcohol out, often taking the character with it, FitVine Free starts fresh. It is crafted from high-quality California verjus, the early-harvest grape juice prized for its natural vibrance.

From there, real fruit juice is layered in for bright, craveable flavor, and a functional boost finishes it: electrolytes including potassium and magnesium for hydration, and in the Power Red, a subtle infusion of adaptogens such as ginseng and passionflower.

The result is crisp, balanced, and occasion-worthy. Every selection is under 0.5% ABV, no sugar added, and 35 calories or less per serving, built for weekday dinners, celebrations, and everything in between.

FitVine Free lifestyle
FitVine Free
FitVine Free

Alcohol

<0.5% ABV

Added sugar

None

Per serving

≤35 cal

Crafted from

CA verjus

The Pours

Petite Sirah

Power Red

Blackberry, plum, blueberry, and oak, with adaptogens for an active, mindful lifestyle.

<0.5% ABV · No sugar added

Chardonnay

Sparkling White

Ripe apple, peach, oak, and white tea. Crisp and celebratory.

<0.5% ABV · No sugar added

Pinot Noir

Sparkling Rosé

Raspberry, strawberry, and citrus blossom. Bright and refreshing.

<0.5% ABV · No sugar added

Non-alcoholic wine shouldn't feel like a compromise. It should feel like staying in the moment on your own terms.

FitVine Free

Kendall-Jackson Light Collection
No. 02The Lighter Estate Edit
Kendall-Jackson Light Collection

Kendall-Jackson Light Collection

New look, same great wine.

This year, you can have it all. The Kendall-Jackson Light Collection brings the quality and taste the house is known for to a lighter glass: low calorie, low alcohol, no sugar, no compromise.

Since 1982, Kendall-Jackson has built its reputation on high-quality wines sourced from California's diverse coastal vineyards. Its flagship Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay has been America's top-selling Chardonnay for over thirty years.

In 2021, the house released its Low Calorie Chardonnay with the same commitment to quality, and it quickly became the number-one selling low-calorie Chardonnay. Heading into the new year, it returns as the Light Collection: a refreshed look, the same wine inside.

Each bottle of Light Chardonnay carries just 85 calories, 3 grams of carbs, zero sugar, and 9% ABV per 5-ounce serving. A refreshing option for active lifestyles, with none of the quality or flavor sacrificed.

Kendall-Jackson Light Collection lifestyle
Kendall-Jackson Light Collection
Kendall-Jackson Light Collection

Calories

85 / 5oz

Carbs

3g

Sugar

0g

Alcohol

9% ABV

The Pours

Light Chardonnay

California Chardonnay

Light Chardonnay

Mango, papaya, and white flower. Pairs with grilled chicken Caesar, avocado toast, or fish tacos.

85 cal · 3g carbs · 0g sugar

Light Sauvignon Blanc

California Sauvignon Blanc

Light Sauvignon Blanc

Arriving this spring with the 2025 vintage release. Bright, crisp, and food-friendly.

85 cal · 0g sugar · 9% ABV

Have your wine and your wellness, too. A delightfully light way to drink the Chardonnay you already know.

Kendall-Jackson Light Collection

Pine Ridge Vineyards
No. 03The Pioneering Blend
Pine Ridge Vineyards

Pine Ridge Vineyards

Thirty vintages. One category of its own.

For three decades, Pine Ridge Vineyards Chenin Blanc + Viognier has united the bright energy of Chenin Blanc with the texture and allure of Viognier—one of California's most original and enduring white wines.

The story began long before the first vintage in 1995. Chenin Blanc was one of the winery's original wines, and while the variety faded from favor across Napa Valley in the early 1990s, founder Gary Andrus remained steadfast in his belief in its potential. Inspired by exploration, he paired vibrant Clarksburg Chenin Blanc with aromatic Lodi Viognier to create a distinctive California white blend unlike anything else on the market.

Today the blend is made by head winemaker Josh Widaman. The 2025 vintage—marking the 30th anniversary of that pioneering vision—is 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Viognier, with Chenin harvested at low sugar levels to preserve bright fruit character and naturally lower alcohol.

Three decades on, its bright acidity, 11.5% ABV, fewer than 80 calories per glass, and minimal sugar make it as relevant to modern lifestyles as it was revolutionary when first introduced—with sustainability commitments that include lighter-weight glass, Napa Green Winery certification, and membership in International Wineries for Climate Action.

Pine Ridge Vineyards lifestyle
Pine Ridge Vineyards

Calories

80 / glass

Sugar

<1g

Alcohol

11.5% ABV

Vintage

30th · 2025

The Pours

Chenin Blanc + Viognier

California White Blend

Chenin Blanc + Viognier

Kiwi, Meyer lemon, and fresh-cut melon on the nose, with honeysuckle and peach ring on a zippy, refreshing palate. Pairs with goat cheese, seafood, Thai curry, or a shrimp and avocado tostada.

80 cal · <1g sugar · 11.5% ABV

At the Table

How to drink the balanced glass

Better-for-you wine earns its place the same way any wine does: next to food, in good company, at the right moment. A few ways to pour it.

No. 01

The weeknight reset

A non-alcoholic red with a simple roast chicken and greens. The ritual of the pour, the structure of the wine, and a clear head for the morning.

No. 02

The long lunch

A lower-alcohol rosé that lets the afternoon stretch without the fade. Built for sunlight, conversation, and a second glass.

No. 03

The driver's seat

A zero-proof white so the one who is driving still gets the full table, not a glass of water and an apology.

No. 04

The training week

A lighter pour that fits a plan instead of fighting it. Flavor on the schedule, not off it.

Discover the wines

Sip smarter. Skip nothing.

Explore non-alcoholic and lower-alcohol wines from the participating wineries featured in The Balanced Glass.

Meet the wines