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Independent Wine Review

Not Guilty Red Wine Review

An approachable, light-bodied de-alcoholised red wine with soft berry notes, slightly marred by a distinct sour edge.

πŸ‘€ Reviewed by JamesπŸ—“ Updated July 2026
🌍UKOrigin
🍺RedStyle
πŸ’§0ABV
🌱YesVegan
πŸ”₯29 kcalper 100ml

Pros

  • βœ“* Highly approachable and easy-drinking style for alcohol-free newcomers
  • βœ“* Pours with a rich, inviting dark ruby purple color in the glass
  • βœ“* Delivers classic red fruit flavors and soft tannins on the initial sip
  • βœ“* Completely alcohol-free (0.0% ABV), vegan-friendly, and gluten-free

Cons

  • βœ•* Marked by a prominent background sourness resembling a faint vinegar edge
  • βœ•* Lacks the complex body and deep structures found in traditional full-bodied reds
  • βœ•* Sweetness profile can feel a bit juice-like or unrefined over long sips

Not Guilty Red Wine Review

Replicating a proper red vintage without alcohol remains one of the hardest challenges in the beverage industry, and Not Guilty Red lands as a mixed bag. As a relatively new brand offering a full-bodied lineup including a RosΓ© and Pinot Grigio, their production process relies on crushing and de-stemming fruit into oak fermenters at low temperatures before deploying spinning cone technology to gently spin away the alcohol.

Pouring a deep, highly attractive dark ruby purple inside the glass, it looks exactly like the real deal. Twist off the screw cap and you are immediately greeted by rich, familiar red wine aromas that flood your nose with classic berry impressions.

Your first sip starts with decent promise, confronting the palate with bold red fruits and light, structured tannins. However, as you keep drinking, a distracting background sourness and vinegar-like edge begins to settle. While it avoids being completely destined for the sink, it quickly hampers the drinking experience, making it hard to manage more than a single small glass.

Ultimately, Not Guilty Red works well enough as an affordable, light everyday entry point for budget-conscious consumers and casual non-alcoholic drinkers. It delivers a simple, accessible experience, though it misses the deeper complexity sought out by true wine enthusiasts.

Not Guilty Red Wine review image

Nutrition

Typical valuesPer 100ml
Energy29 kcal
Fat0.0g
of which saturates0.0g
Carbohydrates6.8g
of which sugars6.5g
Protein0.0g
Salt<0.01g

Best served:

Serve slightly chilled at roughly 12–16Β°C. Cooling the wine slightly helps tone down the background sharpness, rounds out the sugars, and allows the softer berry fruit notes to present much cleaner on the palate.

Pairing recommendation:

Pairs easily with casual everyday meals such as stone-baked pizza, tomato-based pasta dishes, grilled burgers, hearty BBQ food, and mild cheeses.

How Not Guilty Red Wine Compares

WineScoreStyleABVReview
Not Guilty Red57Red Wine0.0%An approachable, fruit-led red with an unfortunate sour background finish.
Adnams Cabernet Tempranillo56Red Wine0.5%A simple red wine alternative offering basic structure and depth.
Oddbird Domaine de la Prade55Red Wine0.0%A more sophisticated, premium attempt at a classic organic French Merlot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Not Guilty Red completely alcohol-free?

Yes, Not Guilty Red is processed down to a absolute 0.0% ABV level, making it a perfect selection for anyone cutting out alcohol completely.

What ingredients are in Not Guilty Wine?

The formulation relies on 96% de-alcoholised wine, grape juice concentrate, carbon dioxide, thickeners (E414), and structural preservatives (E220, E224).

Is this alcohol-free red wine gluten-free?

Yes, Not Guilty Wine does not use any wheat, barley, or grain inputs, ensuring it is entirely gluten-free and safe for coeliac lifestyles.

Is Not Guilty Wine vegan-friendly?

Yes, the clearing and production stages avoid any animal derivatives, making the entire bottle fully vegan-certified.

How many calories are in a glass of Not Guilty?

It contains 29 calories per 100ml, making a standard 125ml glass sit at roughly 36 calories, which is drastically lighter than traditional alcoholic red wines.

⭐ MyDryBar Final Verdict

57/100

Not Guilty Red successfully avoids a total failure, yielding a highly drinkable, sweet fruit profile built cleanly for midweek meals. However, its overall enjoyment is limited by a persistent sour baseline, keeping it from claiming a top tier recommendation.

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