4 Fabulous Alternatives to Rosé, Now That It's Fall

When cooler weather hits, try one of these seasonal drinks, which are just as light and refreshing as the beloved summery wine, but with a little more spice, depth and just plain oomph.

By Lynn Andriani

Photo: Courtesy of Brew Dr. Kombucha

The Brew for Kombucha Lovers

Breweries have long offered autumn-themed ales, and now kombucha makers are joining the ranks with limited-edition seasonal flavors of the probiotic-rich fermented tea. Inspired by the bounty of Oregon's orchards, fields and gardens during fall, this kombucha—which has only trace amounts of alcohol, so it's not considered an alcoholic beverage—features apricot and tarragon flavors, which give it a sweet and savory taste.

Brew Dr. Kombucha Harvest ($3.49 for a 14-ounce bottle)

Photo: Courtesy of Wölffer

The Most Beautiful Way to Get Your Apple a Day

This dry (read: not sweet) hard cider is just as eye-catching as a glass of sparkling rosé, but instead of a pale pink color, it's a gorgeous cherry red. Made with a number of apple varieties—Idared, Northern Spy, Jonagold, Mustu, Law Rome and Golden Delicious—each known for their crisp and aromatic flavors, the cider has a bright taste that pairs well with almost any type of food, from Mexican to Asian.

Wölffer No. 139 Red Cider ($48 for 12 355-ml bottles)

Photo: Courtesy of Monk Provisions

A Feel-Good Drink Anyone Can Enjoy

Shrubs, aka concentrated syrups combining fruit, sugar and vinegar, first became popular in the 17th and 18th century and burst (back) onto the scene about six years ago. This zesty one combines lightly acidic citrus and coconut vinegar with sweet cinnamon and maple, making it a refreshing and seasonal (non-boozy) cocktail. Plus, it's infused with trendy CBD. You can sip the shrub on its own or mix it with alcohol.

Monk 049Cinnamon Citrus Shrub ($40 for 4 8-ounce bottles)

Photo: Courtesy of Kombrewcha

The After-5 Kombucha

Since kombucha is a fermented beverage, it naturally contains a very small amount of alcohol (usually about 0.5% alcohol by volume, or ABV)—but if you're looking for something a tad stiffer, hard kombucha may strike your fancy. This ginger-flavored one tastes like a less-sweet ginger beer, and is 3.2% ABV—which is still lower than most beer and wine, including rosé. This kombucha's subtle spice makes it a great accompaniment to braised pork (or even these cider-braised pork meatballs).

Royal Ginger Kombrewcha ($11.99 for 4 12-ounce bottles)

Published 09/18/2018