Wine and food go hand in hand these days: restaurants pair them together often, and there couldn’t be a better gift for a host or hostess. But if you're entertaining a group of underage guests, designated drivers, or non-drinkers, you'll need to complement the flavor of your food without alcohol. Luckily, many nonalcoholic beverages pair beautifully with an assortment of foods. The next time you're planning an alcohol-free fiesta, check out our creative party tips, food and drink pairings, and recommended beverages, and you'll have yourself a delicious celebration in no time.

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Party Tips

• Serve all drinks in wine glasses, so non-drinking guests don’t feel awkward or left out.


• Use a funnel to pour the beverage into a decanter, an old (clean) wine bottle, or other communal vessel. That way all guests can enjoy the ritual of pouring and tasting.


• Use common sense. If you think about it, pairing is about using your head (nose, mouth, brain). If you are eating something very rich and fatty, you will want something slightly acidic to "cut" it. If you are eating something with a strong flavor, try a heartier, stronger drink (dark tea, unsweetened or lightly sweet deep red juices, balsamic spritzer).


• If you are a fan of drinking with dessert, remember the cardinal rule: the beverage should be as sweet as or sweeter than the dessert being served. Otherwise, the drink will attack the palate and come across as too acidic.


• If you want to "carry" the flavor of a dish – meaning prolong the taste on your buds – sip on something creamy.


• Mix, don’t just match. There are times when drinks "match" the food, meaning they have similar flavor and aroma notes. But they should also enhance and complement the flavor of something. It takes a very skilled nose and tongue to figure out what makes a good mix, but your kitchen is a laboratory, so start experimenting!