Wine spritz season is underway

Wine spritzes are set to be all the rage this Australian summer.

The refreshment quotient and effortless drinkability have seen spritzes boom over the past two years.

Brands like Zonzo Estate and Dal Zotto have set the bar high with their limoncello-style offerings, and now some of the biggest names in the wine industry are weighing in with different flavours and styles.

[Yellow Tail] recently launched a new range in collaboration with TV personality Sophie Monk, and Brown Brothers' brand Innocent Bystander has just launched a watermelon spritz.

De Bortoli launched its Limoncello Spritz last year and it became an immediate hit.

Now, the family-owned winery is turning up the fizz with two new flavours for summer: Lemon & Lime Spritz and Sangria Spritz. 

The first taps into the enduring popularity of citrus in drinks. Crafted from a lightly sparkling wine base, it blends lemon’s bright freshness with lime’s zesty acidity, while Sangria Spritz takes inspiration from the classic chilled Spanish pitcher drink.

Both are under 10% alcohol by volume - and both are vegetarian and Vegan friendly. 

Wine doesn't have to be serious. 

Sometimes it can just be fun, whether it is aperitivo hour, a picnic in the park or a backyard dinner.

See https://www.debortoli.com.au/wines/our-wines/de-bortoli-limoncello-spritz#/ranges 

Europe to formalise NoLo wine terminology

"Alcohol-free", "0.0%"’ and "alcohol light" are the new standardised denominations proposed by the European Commission for no- and low-alcohol wines.

The legislation for NoLo wine products is a bid to enhance their appeal.

As part of its newly presented wine package, the EU executive has proposed the three new classifications seeking to harmonise terminology across member states and support the growing market for non-alcoholic wines.

The overall package introduces targeted measures to help the sector manage its production potential, adapt to changing consumer preferences, and exploit new market opportunities, EuroNews reports.

The overall package introduces targeted measures to help the sector manage its production potential, adapt to changing consumer preferences, and exploit new market opportunities.

The proposed designations define ‘alcohol-free’ as wines with an alcohol content not exceeding 0.5% by volume, while ‘0.0%’ is reserved for wines with an alcohol content not exceeding 0.05% by volume.

The term ‘alcohol-light’ will apply to wines with an alcohol content above 0.5% but at least 30% lower than the minimum strength of the category before dealcoholisation.

Previously, EU legislation used the technical terms “fully and partially de-alcoholised” wines, which were seen as less consumer-friendly.

“The idea is to replace them with names that are more attractive and also more familiar to consumers,” the Commission said.

The three new terms, while already widely used, are currently regulated differently across member states, and the new rules aim to ensure uniform wine labelling throughout the EU.

Image: Carmen Ramon Cami, Scop.io  

Yalumba’s Y Series range heads lo

Yalumba’s popular and affordable Y Series range is taking the lo road. 

Hill Smith Family Wines announced today that the minimal intervention, Vegan-friendly wines from South Australia will feature two lighter wines made with almost half the alcohol of the regular range.

In response to the evolving preferences of wine enthusiasts and the growing trend of moderating alcohol intake, Y Series has launched a chardonnay and a pinot grigio that are lighter in alcohol.

“Wine remains the drink of choice for connection, taste and celebration and we believe that wine lovers should have a lighter option that aligns with their lifestyle choices," said Tahnee Bishop, Y Series brand manager.

“Recent research shows that wine drinkers will often alternate between no, low and full-strength alcohol in the same occasion.

“This means they are in control and can moderate the effects of alcohol, making the most of social events.”

Y Series senior winemaker Heather Fraser is similarly enthusiastic. 

“They represent a fantastic option for those looking to enjoy exceptional wines with a lighter alcohol profile and lower calories, yet still true to their varietal flavours.

“We source the grapes from sustainably managed vineyards in the premium wine growing regions of South Australia, with the wines officially certified through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.”

The new Y Series Lighter Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio each have 7% alcohol, as opposed to their full-strength counterparts at 12 to 13%. 

Y Series Lighter Chardonnay and Y Series Lighter Pinot Grigio are available from Dan Murphy’s and BWS for RRP $16. 

I first tasted the PG - impressively varietal, light on its feet and enjoyable. I would not immediately have picked it as 7%. 

The Chardonnay, unfortunately, did not work for me. It tasted very much like a wine diluted with water. More work remains to be done.  

Meet Pepperjack's potentially game changing mid-strength shiraz

I have been hugely underwhelmed by virtually all of the no-alcohol and low-alcohol wines I have tried thus far. 

Despite some lofty claims from winemakers - and surprisingly high sales reports - the vast majority simply do not cut the mustard as wines. 

A few are OK, but the versions I have tried simply taste like wine that has been watered down. With prices at the same level as a decent bottle, my attitude has been "Why bother?"

Either drink just a glass or two of real wine, or opt for a water or fruit juice and save yourself some cash. 

The best version I have tried so far is from Barossa Valley winery Pepperjack, which is known for its gutsy and full flavoured red wines. 

Pepperjack has just launched a mid-strength shiraz that weighs in at 7% alcohol by volume - around half the alcohol content of its brethren. 

I'm told the release has been an 18-month development process for Richard Mattner and his winemaking team. 

They evaluated a number of different technologies and settled on a vacuum distillation system that "allowed them to capture more aromatics and flavour compounds from their de-alcoholised components". 

There are some fanciful claims about it being suitable for cellaring. Forget that. 

What we have is a decent red wine, lighter than its full-blooded shiraz brother, but well put together and a very good alternative for a designated driver or moderation-driven drinker. 

It finishes just a little short but has some dark fruit flavours, well judged oak and is food friendly. It actually tastes like real wine.    

It is just rolling out into stores now, RRP $25.

[yellow tail] moves into the NOLO wine space

You know the NOLO craze is getting serious when one of Australia's biggest wine brands enters the fray.

With the "‘live better and healthier" theme very much in vogue for 2023, lower alcohol wines are proliferating. 

Many people are looking to moderate their alcohol consumption.

Enter [yellow tail]'s Pure Bright range, which is not only lower in alcohol (a bit) but also appeals to the calorie conscious.

The [yellow tail] team from Casella Family Brands says that "lower in alcohol drinks are a great option for anyone who wants to be more conscious of their alcohol intake'.

Here's the spiel: "The wines allow people to enjoy and participate in the wine occasion, with the same great taste, just less alcohol and fewer calories."

The range retails for between $8-10 a bottle - which certainly makes it affordable. 

The chardonnay has 85 calories per serving and just 9.6% alc/vol. It has some melon flavours and does taste like wine, unlike some of its NOLO rivals. The 2021 Pinot Noir, meanwhile, would be most acceptable served over ice on a warm day. 

All the wines contain fewer than 100 calories per 150ml serve.

The website is selling the chardonnay, pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc. No fruit source indicated on the labels. There is also a sparkling wine, a shiraz and a pinot noir on offer.

See here for details: https://www.yellowtailpurebright.com/ 

The wines are available at Liquorland and First Choice stores, as well as at some independent outlets.  

 

Alcohol-free, carbon neutral, achingly hip

There is no stopping the bizarrely popular low-alcohol and no-alcohol drinks movement. 

With consumption of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks projected to increase 31% by 2024, more and more projects are hitting the market. 

The trouble is that many of these products just don't taste right. My motto is moderation, rather than deprivation. 

. 

I'd rather limit myself to one beer or glass of wine than spend an evening drinking something that tastes a little bit like wine or beer. 

Canberra-based independent craft brewery Capital Brewing Co. is the latest on the already overflowing bandwagon, introducing its first "full flavoured non-alcoholic beer".  

ALC-LESS is being billed as the only carbon neutral non-alcoholic beer in Australia.

ALC-LESS is a tropical Pacific Ale that does taste quite like a real beer - and paired well with some salty pork crackling. 

“As more and more of our customers’ lifestyles are changing to become more focused on health and wellbeing, they can’t afford to be hungover but still want to kick back at the end of the day with a good tastingbrew," says co-founder Tom Hertel. 

"We’re excited to be adding an alcohol-free option to our range at a time when we, as founders, are also becoming more health aware and find ourselves leaning ever more to the low/non alcoholic options."

Fellow founder Laurence Kain says: "We have been working on non-alcoholic beer for over two years. 

"As a team we are pretty proud of the end result." 

See www.capitalbrewing.co