Embracing Low and No-Alcohol Wines at the IWC 2026

Here at the International Wine Challenge, we recognise the growing importance of the low and no-alcohol wine category, and as the world's leading and most influential wine competition, we are evolving the way we assess and reward these wines on the global stage.

Driven by increasingly health-conscious consumers, the cost-of-living crisis, and the ever-increasing tax burden on alcoholic wines, the low and no-alcohol category represents a significant and timely opportunity for producers and retailers to offset the gradual decline in higher-strength wine consumption.

Indeed, the market forecasts speak for themselves. The global low and no-alcohol market was valued at over $13 billion as of late 2023, with no-and low-alcohol wine accounting for approximately £1.8 billion. Meanwhile, the overall low and no-alcohol beverage market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% between 2023 and 2027.

UK market value

The UK low and no-alcohol drinks market was estimated to be worth £413 million as of 2025, with wine accounting for £70 million and growing rapidly. Growth in the low and no-alcohol category is outperforming total beer and cider in value, increasing 21.8% faster than the total market in the previous year. At this stage, much of the above value has been driven by the beer and cider categories. However, with significant innovation and rapid advances in wine production technology, it is only a matter of time before the low and no-alcohol wine category begins to close the gap. An increasing number of producers are entering the low and no-alcohol space, and substantial strides are being made in both flavour quality and overall taste profile.

This is where the International Wine Challenge plays a vital role, offering trusted, independent trade and consumer credibility for low and no-alcohol wines that are rigorously assessed by our judges and proven to meet our high-quality standards.

At the IWC, we also recognise that low and no-alcohol wines cannot be judged in the same way as traditional wines. This category requires specialist judges with a deep understanding of the sector, its production methods, and what today's consumers genuinely expect from these wines.

For the 2026 competition, we are therefore appointing a dedicated Low and No-Alcohol Category Chair, Angela Mount, supported by a carefully selected panel of category experts.

Panel Chair Angela Mount comments: "I've learnt a great deal about the no/lo category through my work with non alc spirits over the last few years, in terms of consumer trends.The sector is growing rapidly and is here to stay, retailers now have dedicated no/lo space in store, pubs and restaurants have no/lo drinks lists. But the consumer is becoming increasingly discerning and is looking for quality of product and good flavour profile.

"The beer market has already cracked it and has come a million miles from 10 years ago, in terms of quality; wine has some catching up to do, but even in the recent Tranche 1 we saw some real improvements in many of the wines shown. Our job is to identify and reward the wines that are showing real authenticity, with clean, fresh flavours, varietal character, and which offer the consumer an enjoyable alternative - of course a non alc wine is never going to taste the same as an alcoholic one; but we need to encourage producers to intensify their efforts in this category, and to help both industry buyers and consumers pick the best ones. It's important that the panel understand the growing relevance of the category, and that we evaluate the wines for what they are, as they are, in their own category."

If you enter your low and no-alcohol wines into the International Wine Challenge 2026, you can be confident that:

- We will have a dedicated panel and panel chair who understand the low and no-alcohol category judging your wines.
- Your wines will be judged in the context of the low and no-alcohol category with judges fully briefed on what they should expect in terms of taste profile for this category.
- The IWC will be promoting the results and winners in the category to make sure your winning low and no-alcohol wines receive the recognition they deserve.

Criteria for entry:

- Wines must be predominantly made from grapes only.
- Wines can be infused with flavourings or blended with fruits, provided there is a minimum of 65% grape juice content.
- Wines that are 5% ABV or lower are considered low or no-alcohol.
- Comparable wines will be tasted together, arranged from dry to sweet.

How to enter

In the normal entry process for IWC wines, click the Low and No-Alcohol Wine Category in the entry form and confirm your submission.