tips welcome for non drinkers (of wine) in italy

Helpful Phrase: "No Thank You", with a smile.

I think a wine tour if you do not drink wine is something of an oxymoron.
Wine tours are about tasting the stuff.

If you are on an actual wine tour, perhaps it is because you are accompanying someone who is tasting the wine? You can simply decline. (Perhaps you are the DD?) They may not have an alternative for you at a winery, though.

At meals, simply order what you wish to have: water, juice, soda. Italians will not think you odd for not drinking. (More likely, they think the rest of us drink too much!)

Just eat the wonderful Italian food and don't order wine. When I first visited Italy, I went with my brand new husband who did not drink. No one was offended by his abstinence and he enjoyed the food (especially the cheeses) every bit as much as I did. Really, it's a non-issue.

The first thing waiters ask about is Water, would you like Water? You pay for the water at your table in Italy. I always ask for a big bottle of Frizzante and I ask for it in a decanter or carafe. They'll do that too, bring out my Frizzante in a lovely vessel. So I have an elegant meal every where I go. This makes waiters very happy, seeing you happy. They may or may not ask about wine, they may have a wine list available, but it's Never pushed.

And Water has its own stemware at the table, and they love pouring my Frizzante for me, and it looks so pretty, all bubbly and fizzy, popping and spraying all over, I laugh, they laugh and that's the end of it, nothing else is needed. They're happy to bring out more water if you want.

They'll even put lemon or lime twists in your water or you can ask for a sliced lemon or lime as a side dish. This may add cost, but it's fun and worth it if you like the taste. It's not what you're thinking here, it's not centered on pairing wines for you, it is centered on giving you a good experience at your table.

And just don't go on wine tours. Why go? To accompany someone else? Bring along your own grape juice? Why would a companion want you along if you avoid the stuff? I'm going on a wine-tasting tour soon (as a Guide, not a taster) and I'll know more then. Right now I'm a tad confused about the wine tour and so will drop it.

I was on the Village Italy tour last summer. It did include a wine tasting. It was hilarious to go into the room and see all the food, the bottles of wine and a liter bottle of peach tea just for me.

Everybody on the tour drank alcohol except me, but not everyone drank alcohol with every meal. Whether on my own or with the group, I had absolutely no problem getting non-alcoholic beverages.

The group meals always had water, both aqua frizzante and aqua naturale, on the table. I'm a big fan of fizzy water, so it was perfect for me. When I was on my own, that's what I ordered.

You will not offend anyone by not imbibing. In fact I found that the Italians were more than happy to bring me something other than alcohol, and I don't think it was because non-alcoholic drinks are often more expensive than wine.

Hosts and restaurant staff won’t give a hoot if you don’t drink wine. There are millions of Italians who don’t drink alcohol and therefore never order alcoholic drinks at restaurants. Just because Italy is a major wine producing country it doesn’t mean all Italians drink.

I question why one would waste money on a wine tour if s/he can’t drink wine, maybe to accompany others in the party who do, I guess. But nevertheless nobody will force you to drink it. I’m sure they’ll have tap water available at the wineries.

I don't think you'll have any problem. Not all Italians drink alcohol and nobody is going to try to force it on you. If you want to go on a winery tour, I would talk to your tour guide and politely let them know you are there for the cultural aspects but don't care to indulge in the wine tasting. However, I don't believe they'll have alcohol free beverages, other than water, to serve but I could be wrong. (Our winery tour included 3 winery stops with 3 to 4 wines sampled at each stop.) You could also reach out to tour companies beforehand and ask for some advise. I doubt you're the first tourist to raise this question. Anyway, I don't think you'll offend anybody.

You won't offend anyone by simply saying "No, thank you." And I don't think the culture is centered on "pairing of wines." Many folks simply get a carafe of the house wine, or one bottle to go with all the courses.

The only time we had drinks pressed on us in Italy is when we were offered complimentary grappa or limoncello after the meal. Again, a polite refusal works.

Now, if you were going to Eastern Europe it might be a bit more difficult....

Thank you so much for your replies! I can't wait for my trip:)

A good phrase to know is “analcolici” (non-alcoholic). You might see this on menus. In a restaurant or bar, you could ask for an “aperitivo analcolcico alla frutta” (non alchocolic cocktail with fruit juice).
Italians drink bottled water with dinner. I initially thought waiters were trying to “upsell” me until I looked around and realized it’s just what local Italians do. No one drinks tap water.
Most surprising of all is how tasty the mineral water is! Order a bottle of “acqua frizzante con limone” (sparkling water with lemon) and you will be set. You could also try San Pellegrino’s limontata or orangina ( lemon or orange flavoured sodas). They are good- not syrupy sweet like American soda.
Enjoy your trip!!!

"Grazie, no." Pronounced GRAH-tsee-yeh and the "no" is pronounced like the English word "gnaw" but quickly. Seriously.

Suggestions: san pelligrino, great sub. In 2 trips never a problem. Went on one tour where wine was part of the meal, easy to get something else. I am more a white wine person, reds upset my tummy, but still not much of a drinker and hubby non drinker, lots of people prefer something other than a. beverages there.