What is Welch's grape juice with alcohol?

January 3, 2026 •

3 min read

Despite being a family-friendly brand for generations, Welch's has recently entered the alcoholic beverage market. So, what is Welch's grape juice with alcohol? It is the brand's line of ready-to-drink craft cocktails that incorporate their classic grape flavor with spirits.

Quick Summary

Standard Welch's grape juice is non-alcoholic, but the brand now offers a line of craft cocktails featuring grape juice and spirits. It is also possible to create homemade fermented beverages using their juice.

Key Points

Welch's Craft Cocktails: Welch's has a line of ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, which are commercially produced cocktails containing spirits.
Non-Alcoholic Juice: Standard Welch's grape juice is non-alcoholic and pasteurized to prevent fermentation.
Vodka Transfusion: One of the Craft Cocktails features Welch's Concord Grape juice blended with vodka, ginger, and citrus flavors.
Home Fermentation: Hobbyists can ferment Welch's juice with added yeast and sugar to create homemade wine, though the result can be inconsistent.
No Fermentation in a Bottle: A sealed, store-bought bottle of Welch's juice will not ferment on its own because it is pasteurized and contains preservatives.
Alcohol by Volume: The official Craft Cocktails have a specific ABV of 5.9%, while homemade versions vary widely depending on the recipe.

For many, the name Welch's is synonymous with non-alcoholic, family-friendly grape juice. However, the landscape of the brand's offerings has expanded to include products containing alcohol, a development that might surprise consumers. The term "Welch's grape juice with alcohol" refers to a specific product line known as Welch's Craft Cocktails, which launched in 2024. These are not fermented versions of their standard juice, but rather, professionally blended alcoholic beverages that use Welch's juice as a key ingredient.

Welch's Craft Cocktails: The Commercial Option

In March 2024, Welch's officially introduced its line of ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages, signaling a new chapter for the company. These cocktails are distinct from the juice products most people know and love. They are crafted for adults and contain a controlled amount of alcohol. The key features of the Craft Cocktails include:

Vodka Transfusion: The flagship grape-flavored cocktail features Welch's Concord Grape juice, complemented by ginger and citrus notes, blended with a vodka base. It is inspired by a classic country club beverage, providing a modern, adult twist.
Consistent Quality: Unlike homemade methods, these commercially produced cocktails offer a consistent flavor profile and alcohol content, with a stable Alcohol By Volume (ABV) of 5.9%.
Availability: These products are sold in four-packs of 12 oz. cans and are available in select locations where alcoholic beverages are legally sold.

The DIY Method: Creating Homemade Alcohol from Grape Juice

Beyond the official brand extension, a popular practice among homebrewers is fermenting store-bought grape juice, including Welch's, to create a low-budget wine or "hooch". The fermentation process is a well-understood scientific phenomenon where yeast consumes sugar and converts it into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

The Essentials of Home Fermentation

To ferment grape juice into an alcoholic beverage, you need a few core components:

Grape Juice: Look for a 100% grape juice without preservatives like potassium sorbate, which can inhibit or kill yeast. Some homebrewers add additional sugar to increase the potential alcohol content.
Yeast: While some wild yeasts exist naturally, adding a commercial wine yeast is recommended for reliable and predictable results. Bread yeast can also be used but may produce less favorable flavors.
Fermentation Vessel: A container that allows for the release of CO2 while preventing oxygen and contaminants from entering is essential. A jug with an airlock or a balloon is a common DIY setup.

The Process of Making Grape Juice "Wine"

Preparation: Sanitize all equipment thoroughly to prevent unwanted bacteria from spoiling the batch.
Mixing: Combine the juice, extra sugar if desired, and the rehydrated yeast in the fermentation vessel.
Fermentation: Allow the mixture to ferment in a warm, dark place. The process can take several weeks or even months, with a bubbling airlock indicating active fermentation.
Racking and Aging: Once fermentation slows or stops, siphon the clear liquid into clean bottles, leaving the sediment behind. Aging can improve the flavor.

Welch's Craft Cocktails vs. Homemade Fermented Juice


Feature	Welch's Craft Cocktails	Homemade Fermented Juice
Production	Industrially crafted, professionally blended.	DIY, potentially inconsistent quality.
Alcohol Source	Added spirits (e.g., vodka).	Yeast converts juice sugars into ethanol.
ABV	Standardized at 5.9%.	Variable, depends on sugar content and yeast strain.
Flavor Profile	Controlled, predictable, and consistently balanced.	Can be unpredictable, potentially having off-flavors from wild yeast.
Taste	Refreshing with notes of ginger and citrus (Transfusion).	Often more tart or acidic, sometimes described as having a homebrew flavor.
Availability	Sold in liquor stores and select retailers.	Made at home, requires time and effort.
Ingredients	Blended with spirits, real fruit juice, and flavorings.	Grape juice, added sugar, and yeast.

Conclusion: Understanding the Different Alcoholic Options

Welch's has officially created a line of alcoholic beverages with its Craft Cocktails, representing a significant extension of the brand into the adult market. These ready-to-drink products offer a professional, consistent, and convenient way to enjoy Welch's grape flavor in an alcoholic format. On the other hand, the idea of Welch's grape juice with alcohol also points to a separate, DIY world of homebrewing, where hobbyists ferment the non-alcoholic juice to produce their own simple wines or brews. Whether you choose the reliable, commercially produced cocktail or embark on your own fermentation project, it is clear that Welch's grape juice and alcohol can be combined, though the results will differ greatly. For official product information, visit Welch's Craft Cocktails online.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, standard Welch's grape juice is a non-alcoholic beverage. It is pasteurized to prevent fermentation, and its ingredients are checked to ensure it remains non-alcoholic.

Welch's Craft Cocktails are a line of ready-to-drink, canned alcoholic beverages launched by the company in 2024. They are mixed with spirits and flavored with Welch's juices, not simply fermented juice.

Welch's Craft Cocktails have an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) of 5.9%. This is the same for all flavors in the product line, including the Vodka Transfusion.

Yes, you can make homemade fermented drinks using Welch's grape juice, yeast, and sugar. However, you must use a version without preservatives that inhibit yeast growth.

No, a store-bought bottle of Welch's juice will not turn into wine if left to age. The juice is pasteurized to kill microbes and often contains preservatives, so it will simply spoil rather than ferment.

Craft Cocktails are commercially produced beverages with a consistent flavor and 5.9% ABV, using spirits as the alcohol base. Homemade versions are created by fermenting the juice with yeast, resulting in variable alcohol content and potentially inconsistent flavors.

Welch's Craft Cocktails are sold in retail locations where alcoholic beverages are permitted. You can check the Welch's Craft Cocktails website for a product locator.