Some Wines Need a Wingman

Wotcha!

So, given the extortionate price of tickets to see a game at this year’s FIFA World Cup, who wants to take a guess at how much they’ll be charging for a bottle of Budweiser Zero or Corona Cero at the stadiums?

Enjoy some great drinks this week.

Cheers,

Myles

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

WINE
Misty Cliffs - Chardonnay

BEER
Bero - Double Tasty West Coast Style IPA

Read time: 5 minutes 40 seconds

From our sponsor: The Zero Proof

Explore the new lineup from one of NA's hottest new brands, Lapo's.

They recently launched a Limoncello Spritz, Amaro Cola, Mandarino G&T and a Negroni Water just in time for the warmer months.

PLUS if you haven’t tried Lapo’s Citrus and Lapo’s Negroni you are missing out! Read my reviews here (Citrus) and here (Negroni).

Both are in my Top 10 ready-to-drink non-alc cocktails of all time.

10% discount applied at checkout.

Thank you for supporting our sponsors who in turn support this newsletter.

COCKTAILS: The infallible Lapo’s adds two new products to its family tree: Lapo’s Amaro and Lapo’s Amaro Cola. (Link)

COCKTAIL: Looking for a spicy non-alcoholic margarita? One Night might just have what you’re after. Pre-orders are open now. (Link)

COCKTAIL: Speaking of spicy margaritas, Mingle has two brand-new releases on the market: Subtly Spicy Margarita and Juicy Watermelon Spritz. (Link)

BEER: To celebrate the CN Tower’s 50th birthday, the Toronto landmark has partnered with Harmon’s Craft Brewing to launch Clear View Non-Alc Lager, which will be available exclusively at the 360 Restaurant and across CN Tower venues. (Link)

BEER: Over in Germany, Krombacher 0.0% Pils, already available in cans and bottles, will now be offered on draught. (Link)

WINE

ModSub thoughts: I’ve had a hankering to try some new wines lately. Sometimes, when I'm zig-zagging across the non-alcoholic drink landscape with this newsletter, I realise there are whole categories I haven’t touched in weeks. Christina Kimbrough’s newsletter takeover a few editions back reminded me of this, and so here I am, in search of another good wine.

Misty Cliffs Wines was founded by wine industry veteran Jason Stanley, who began his career importing wine from his native South Africa after moving to Boston in the early 2000s. Not surprisingly, his wine company sources grapes from a handful of regions around South Africa’s Western Cape. If you’re a long-time reader, this is the same region from which non-alcoholic spirit brand Abstinence [previously] sources the ingredients for its botanical spirits.

The wines — of which there are now five varietals — are sold through both The Zero Proof and online competitor Boisson. They can be found in Michelin-starred restaurants, and Wine Spectator recently included their Cabernet Sauvignon–Merlot in a round-up of dealcoholized wines you must try.

So I decided to pick up a bottle of their Chardonnay to see what the buzz was all about.

I’ve never been a glass-of-wine-after-work type of chap, preferring instead to opt for a beer or aperitif to ease myself out of the workday. If I were one, however, I’m not sure this Chardonnay would be my top choice for that daily ritual, as it just doesn’t speak to me as a standalone taste experience. I certainly didn’t dislike it, but it is a little light, with the flavours hiding away behind the acidity, struggling to make a significant impact.

However, where this wine absolutely shone was later in the evening with dinner. Paired with a chili-lime chicken salad topped with a mildly spiced jalapeño ranch dressing, the wine blossomed, revealing strong notes of pear and apple, amply supported by touches of lemon and butterscotch, along with the mildest trace of oak. It became wonderfully bright and fruit-forward once it interacted with the ingredients in the salad.

So despite my initial lack of enthusiasm, by my second glass — and with most of my chicken salad dispensed with — I was left highly impressed with this Chardonnay, and it’ll be one I come back to. Bear in mind this is on the lighter side of Chardonnay. If you’re looking for something buttery with more oak, this might not be your jam. Still, it’s definitely encouraging me to try the other wines from Misty Cliffs.

As non-alcoholic wines continue their bumpy ascent toward consumer acceptance, wines like Misty Cliffs’ Chardonnay will go a good way toward closing the gap.

10% discount applied at checkout.

How Misty Cliffs describes their Chardonnay: Light straw-yellow in appearance, bright and fresh. Aromas of ripe pear and yellow apple are complemented by subtle vanilla sweetness from oak, with a delicate touch of butterscotch. The palate opens smoothly with a rich, rounded texture, reminiscent of crème brûlée. Ripe summer fruit flavors are layered with gentle citrus notes, balanced by well-integrated oak sweetness. The finish is long and lingering.

Have you had any of the Misty Cliffs wines? Hit reply and let me know!

Advertisment

The only international non-alcohol competition judged exclusively by real trade buyers.

Importers, distributors, retailers, and mixologists blind-taste every entry by category and actual price. Open to commercially produced NA products worldwide — no U.S. distribution required.

🏅 3rd Annual International Non-Alcoholic Competition — June 12, 2026

Now accepting entries. www.nonalcoholcomp.com

Thank you for supporting our advertiser who in turn support this newsletter.

BEER

ModSub thoughts: It’s been a while since I tried one from the Bero collection and, spotting Tom Holland’s latest release in a local Target while searching for some Panini World Cup stickers, it seemed like a good time to grab a 6-pack off the shelf. Mind you, I say latest — it’s almost been a year since Double Tasty, West Coast Style IPA came out, but hey, who’s counting?

Tom Holland’s Bero has gone from strength to strength since the actor launched the non-alcoholic beer brand a little over 18 months ago. While it’s got a long way to go to catch up with the likes of Athletic Brewing, it still managed a whopping $10 million in sales in its first year, and the company expects to triple that this year. Earlier this year, Bero secured a round of investment reportedly putting the company’s valuation at $100 million, and strong distribution ties have the beer in pretty much every major grocery retailer across the country. It’s still early days, of course, but all signs point to the brand’s success being attributed to the quality of the beer, not just the celebrity backing. So far, they seem to have done everything right.

If a hoppy beer is what I’m after of an evening, I do love one that introduces itself with a hefty wallop of hops wafting up my nostrils the second after I’ve pulled the tab. Double Tasty, West Coast Style IPA didn’t disappoint on this count, stopping me momentarily in my tracks. The pour is a dark straw colour, a tad cloudy, and boasts one of the most impressive heads I’ve seen from a non-alc beer yet. Brewed with premium Colorado malts and combining three varieties of hops — Cascade, Mosaic, and El Dorado — Double Tasty delivers orange, grapefruit, and pine, with a snap of bitterness that won’t take you out of your comfort zone.

Tom Holland apparently uses the phrase “Double Tasty” for “when a meal hits the spot or when I’m genuinely blown away by something.” Blown away… maybe not. Would I buy it again? Absolutely.

A solid beer that’s worth your time.

How Bero describes their Double Tasty West Coast Style IPA: From pour to finish, Double Tasty West Coast Style IPA delivers on bitterness and body with signature notes of citrus and pine and a crisp, clean finish.

Previously from Bero: Noon Wheat

EXTRA READS