The alarm goes off a little earlier, the diary fills up, and you catch yourself thinking that summer already feels far away. Back-to-school has a reputation: the return to seriousness, the slightly gloomy good resolutions. Here, we see it differently. Getting back into the rhythm doesn't mean giving up pleasure — just relocating it. The lovely Friday aperitif, the glass you savour without a second thought: those have no season. Here's how to keep the spirit of summer in your glass, even when September takes back the reins.
In brief: back-to-school isn't a punishment. We keep the rituals that do us good — the Friday aperitif, the evening glass, the dinner that lingers — while easing into slightly more autumnal flavours. Our ideas for a back-to-school season with real taste, without depriving yourself. Delivered within 72 hours.
Keep the ritual, change the setting
Pleasure doesn't get packed away with the swimwear
In summer, the glass was outside, in the sunshine. In September, it migrates indoors, gets a little later, a little more muted — but it stays. The mistake, when the new season starts, is to cut everything off at once, like a punishment. What lasts over time is, on the contrary, keeping the small rituals that do you good: the Friday evening glass that marks the end of the week, the impromptu aperitif with friends passing through, the dinner you take a little care over. Alcohol-free drinks, in all of this, are what allow you to say yes to every one of those moments, without ever suffering the morning after.
💡 The wine merchant's tip: don't change your habits, just change what's in the glass. The ritual matters more than the bottle.
Three back-to-school moments not to sacrifice
The Friday aperitif
It's the first thing to go when the pace picks up again, which is a real shame — it's precisely the one that creates the break. A well-chilled alcohol-free spritz, a handful of olives, and the week ends just as it should. Our ready-to-drink cocktails do the job in thirty seconds, with nothing to prepare.
The evening glass that unwinds you
When the days fill up, the little evening glass becomes a genuine decompression chamber. That's where more autumnal flavours come back into their own: a supple red served at room temperature, an alcohol-free spirit worked into a short cocktail, something to be sipped slowly.
The dinner you take care over
In September, we move back to heartier dishes — and that means the return of a proper glass at the table. A white with fish, a red with a slow-cooked dish: alcohol-free options mean everyone can have a beautiful glass, from the designated driver to the one who's back at the gym, with no one left out.
💡 The wine merchant's tip: this is the moment to bring back the slightly more structured reds, served at room temperature, that you'd set aside during the height of summer.
Towards seasonal flavours
Gently, without a sharp break
No need to change everything overnight. We keep the bubbles and the crisp whites we love, and gradually reintroduce warmer flavours: a red at room temperature, a cocktail based on alcohol-free spirits with woody or spiced notes, a lovely ginger infusion for cooler evenings. The new season becomes a transition, not a deprivation.
Also worth reading
- Alcohol-free red wine: the guide to choosing the right one
- Alcohol-free whisky: the secret is in the mixology
- All our alcohol-free cocktail recipes
Frequently asked questions
How do you keep the pleasure of aperitif time when the new season starts?
By keeping the ritual rather than dropping it: the Friday glass, aperitifs with friends, the evening glass. Alcohol-free drinks let you enjoy all those moments without suffering the consequences the next morning.
Which alcohol-free drinks are right for the new season?
We gently shift from summer flavours (bubbles, crisp whites, spritz) towards more autumnal ones: supple reds at room temperature, cocktails based on alcohol-free spirits, ginger infusions for cool evenings.
Is alcohol-free a bit sad for an aperitif?
Quite the opposite: a beautiful cocktail or a proper glass of alcohol-free wine means everyone can raise a glass, including those who are driving or simply prefer to avoid alcohol. The pleasure remains fully intact, with no one left out.
Gueule de Joie — France's first alcohol-free wine merchant since 2019. Over 450 references selected for taste, delivered within 72 hours anywhere in France (free delivery from €80).
