For the sober and sober-curious alike, going alcohol-free no longer means settling for something sweet, flat or second best. Toronto-based Pour Sport is part of that shift. Founder Alanna Ostvik launched the brand after stepping away from alcohol and missing not just the drink, but the ritual around it, from the shared toast to the sense of occasion. Her solution: a lineup of dealcoholized wines made from quality European vintages, with the alcohol removed through vacuum distillation to preserve structure and acidity. The result is a true zero-proof collection, free of added sugar, including a Sparkling Rosé and a crisp Sparkling White made from Pinot Grigio grapes.
Bright, dry and refreshing, the wines are especially suited to summer, when meals lean fresh and produce-driven. As Pour Sport makes its way onto more Toronto restaurant menus, here are three places to try it, along with pairing ideas worth borrowing at home.
Salade niçoise + Pour Sport Sparkling Rosé
Le Sélect Bistro
At Le Sélect Bistro, the longtime Toronto French favourite on Wellington Street West, the salade niçoise layers rare grilled tuna with soft boiled egg, new potato, green bean, niçoise olive, tomato, chervil and anchovy vinaigrette. The pairing with Sparkling Rosé makes immediate sense: The wine’s freshness lifts the saltiness of the anchovy and olives, while its bubbles keep the potatoes and egg from feeling too heavy. Rosé also tends to shine with tomato and tuna. Summer hosts, take note: This is the perfect al fresco lunch pairing.
Dry-aged duck breast + Pour Sport Sparkling White
bosk at Shangri-La Toronto
Inside Shangri-La Toronto, bosk brings a Northern Italian perspective to the table, with seasonal dishes served in a polished dining room and on a summer-ready patio. One standout pairing is the dry-aged Brome Lake duck breast with rooftop glazed baby beets, salt-roasted turnips, turnip purée, buckwheat tuile and Marsala-scented jus alongside Pour Sport’s Dry Sparkling Pinot Grigio. Here, the wine’s bright acidity and fine bubbles cut through the richness of the duck, while its clean apple-and-pear profile keeps earthy root vegetables tasting vivid. At home, use that same logic with duck, pork or even mushroom-heavy mains that need a bit of lift in the glass.
Fried oysters + Pour Sport Sparkling Rosé
The Hamptons Restaurant
This laidback Little Italy restaurant is known for its weekly rotating menu, eclectic indoor atmosphere and lush back patio. The fried oysters with parmigiano espuma and pomegranate balsamic paired with Sparkling Rosé hit that elusive sweet spot between indulgent and refreshing. The rosé’s acidity cuts through the fry, the bubbles sharpen the briny oyster flavour, and its fruit notes play neatly with the tart-sweet balsamic. For an easy summer entertaining riff, pair your bottle with fried calamari or a platter of aged cheeses with fresh berries for garnish.
Shop Pour Sport zero-proof wines online at drinkpoursport.com.