Review: Saint Viviana Dealcoholized Wines
Review: Saint Viviana Dealcoholized Wines
Saint Viviana is retailer The Zero Proof’s proprietary line of non-alcoholic wines, made by California winemakers by dealcoholizing “fantastic wine,” and keeping additives (like oak extract) to a minimum.
A white and a red are on offer. We tried both.
Saint Viviana Sauvignon Blanc Dealcoholized Wine – This definitely smells the part, with a brisk pineapple note on the nose and a mild, perfumed element behind. The palate lacks the acidity I was hoping for, replaced mainly by a forceful vinegar note, though some notes of peach and lemon peek through as the shortish finish arrives. The rather thin body evokes juice more than wine — a common problem with NA wines — but here the effect is much too pronounced. B / $23
Saint Viviana Cabernet Sauvignon Dealcoholized Wine – This looks about right in the glass, with a dark purple-crimson color that’s far more intense than the typical NA wine. On the nose and palate, however, it’s immediately a bit off, its thin, lightly green body offering an understated note of strawberries and rhubarb, with a fairly blunt slug of oak to tamp any fruit down before things get too wild. Better if you’re pairing it with a meal, but like most NA reds, it’s just too clearly not the real deal. C / $23
Can I get my money back? The cab is undrinkable.