Quick Answer: Our top pick for sparkling cider on a charcuterie board is Martinelli's Sparkling Cider (4.8 out of 5). Driest: Welch's Sparkling Apple Cider. For the holidays: R.W. Knudsen Sparkling Cider & Spice. Fruit flavor: Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Cranberry. We ranked 8 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
Sparkling cider is the toast for everyone who isn't drinking: kids, drivers and anyone skipping alcohol. It works on a board the same way prosecco does, cutting through salty meat and rich cheese, with apple sweetness that suits sharp cheddar and brie. These rankings combine Sporked's sparkling cider taste test, Rhett & Link's Martinelli's tasting and the sparkling picks in Mashed's and Daily Meal's apple cider rankings.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked October 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Martinelli's Sparkling Cider ($) | ★★★★★ 4.8 |
| Driest: Welch's Sparkling Apple Cider ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 |
| Best for the holidays: R.W. Knudsen Sparkling Cider & Spice ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best fruit flavor: Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Cranberry ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Martinelli's Sparkling Cider ($) | ★★★★★ 4.8 | Every toast |
| 2. Welch's Sparkling Apple Cider ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 | A drier, crisper cider |
| 3. Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Cranberry ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | Thanksgiving and Christmas |
| 4. R.W. Knudsen Sparkling Cider & Spice ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | A spiced holiday drink |
| 5. Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Apple-Pomegranate ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | A sweet, pink cider |
| 6. Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Grape ($) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | Kids |
| 7. Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Cider ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 | An organic toast |
| 8. Trader Joe's Sparkling Apple Cider ($) | ★★★½☆ 3.3 | A cheap backup |
1. Martinelli's Sparkling Cider
★★★★★ 4.8 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: Every toast · $ budget
Sporked's #1 with a perfect 10: still the best sparkling apple cider you can buy at the grocery store. Rhett & Link called it apple juice with a bite (Sporked).
- Why we like it: The classic, sold almost everywhere in its apple-shaped bottle.
- Keep in mind: On the sweet side for a savory board.
- Where to buy: Nearly every grocery store, especially from November.
2. Welch's Sparkling Apple Cider
★★★★½ 4.7 out of 5 · Driest · Best for: A drier, crisper cider · $ budget
Sporked's best dry pick, 9.5 out of 10: Welch's nailed this apple cider.
- Why we like it: Less sweet, so it goes better with salty meat.
- Keep in mind: Easier to find in the holiday season than the rest of the year.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores, seasonally.
3. Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Cranberry
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best fruit flavor · Best for: Thanksgiving and Christmas · $ budget
Sporked scored it 9 out of 10 for balance and a little something more.
- Why we like it: Festive color and a tart edge.
- Keep in mind: Rhett & Link found the cranberry faint ([Sporked]({RL})).
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
4. R.W. Knudsen Sparkling Cider & Spice
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best for the holidays · Best for: A spiced holiday drink · $$ mid-range
Sporked's best spiced cider, 9 out of 10: the one to get you in the holiday spirit.
- Why we like it: Warm spice that suits a winter board.
- Keep in mind: Seasonal and less widely stocked.
- Where to buy: Natural-food stores and some grocery stores.
5. Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Apple-Pomegranate
★★★★☆ 3.9 out of 5 · Best for: A sweet, pink cider · $$ mid-range
Sporked's best sweet pick, 8.5 out of 10: like sparkling apple cider with a dash of grenadine.
- Why we like it: Organic, with a pretty color.
- Keep in mind: Sweet.
- Where to buy: Natural-food and many grocery stores.
6. Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Grape
★★★★☆ 3.9 out of 5 · Best for: Kids · $ budget
Rhett & Link's favorite of the flavored Martinellis: "Now this is nice" (Sporked).
- Why we like it: Sweet and fruity, a hit with kids.
- Keep in mind: Too sweet for most savory boards.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
7. Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Cider
★★★★☆ 3.8 out of 5 · Best for: An organic toast · $$ mid-range
Mashed ranked it 9th of 13 apple ciders: the fizz lasted unexpectedly long, and it's a nice pick when you want something fancy without alcohol, though it tastes more like apple juice than cider.
- Why we like it: Organic and long-lasting bubbles.
- Keep in mind: Costs more than the original.
- Where to buy: Natural-food and many grocery stores.
8. Trader Joe's Sparkling Apple Cider
★★★½☆ 3.3 out of 5 · Best for: A cheap backup · $ budget
Mashed ranked it 11th of 13: fine, but nothing to write home about.
- Why we like it: Cheap.
- Keep in mind: Tastes more like fizzy juice than the leaders.
- Where to buy: Trader Joe's.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinelli's Sparkling Cider | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4.8 |
| Welch's Sparkling Apple Cider | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4.7 |
| Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Cranberry | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 |
| R.W. Knudsen Sparkling Cider & Spice | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Apple-Pomegranate | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3.9 |
| Martinelli's Sparkling Apple-Grape | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3.9 |
| Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Cider | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3.8 |
| Trader Joe's Sparkling Apple Cider | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3.3 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: "Sparkling cider" in a grocery store is non-alcoholic, carbonated apple juice. Hard cider is a different, alcoholic drink, usually sold with beer. Look for 100% juice on the label.
Skip: Ciders that go flat. Daily Meal found Aldi's Nature's Nectar sparkling cider lacked bubbles and apple flavor, and its Louisburg sparkling cider had lost its fizz. Chill bottles well, and open them just before toasting.
How much to buy: a 25.4 oz bottle pours about five 5-oz glasses. For a toast, one bottle covers 6 to 8 people. What it pairs with: sharp cheddar, brie, Gouda, prosciutto, apples, pears and salted nuts. The drier Welch's suits salty meat best. See our zero-proof pairings for more drinks.
For what sparkling cider pairs with and how to serve it, see the zero-proof pairing guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Sparkling cider questions
What is the best non-alcoholic sparkling cider?
Martinelli's Sparkling Cider, which scored a perfect 10 in Sporked's taste test. Welch's Sparkling Apple Cider is the drier pick.
Is sparkling cider alcoholic?
No. Grocery-store sparkling cider like Martinelli's is carbonated apple juice. Hard cider is the alcoholic version.
Does sparkling cider go with charcuterie?
Yes. Its bubbles and acidity cut through salty meat and rich cheese, and the apple flavor pairs especially well with cheddar and brie.
How much sparkling cider do I need for a party?
A 25.4 oz bottle pours about five glasses. For a toast, one bottle covers 6 to 8 people.
Sources
- Sporked: Best Sparkling Apple Cider, Ranked
- Sporked: Rhett & Link on the Best Martinelli's
- Mashed: Grocery Store Apple Ciders, Ranked (Sep 2023)
- Daily Meal: 10 Store-Bought Apple Ciders, Ranked (Oct 2024)
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