Author: Bubbly

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Virgin Bubbles

Torres Natureo De-alcoholised Muscat (Spain)

Bubbly’s take…

We heard that the Natureo was the very first de-alcoholised wine to hit the supermarket shelves in Spain. For a virgin wine, we certainly think this one has surprising depth of flavour. It possesses rounded, lush and fruity notes to keep the palate entertained. This wine also possesses a beautiful colour and a robust bouquet hence we think the Natureo Muscant is a great choice if you’re after something that looks, smells and tastes like the real deal.

Would go well with…

Definitely food. This wine is quite versatile and we think it would pair well with most Mediterranean dishes. It’s one of those reliable wines that you can use as both an ingredient and an accompaniment. We enjoyed the Natureo when we made some scrumptous goats cheese and courgette fusilli (thanks to Mildreds (London) for the recipe!):

Where to buy…

Waitrose Cellar

Categories
Virgin Bubbles

Benjamin Truffer Alcohol-free Sparkling Muscato

Bubbly’s take…

This light wine is definitely fruity and flavoursome. Being a Muscato, it is certainly one of the sweeter virgin or low-alcohol wines that we have tried. But it is a cordial drink to enjoy and we believe it would be suited to those seeking a more adventurous virgin wine.

Would go well with…

We think this Muscato could be enjoyed in lieu of a usual dessert or fortified wine. Equally, we enjoyed this with Netflix!

Where to buy…

Marks & Spencer (in-store)

Categories
Virgin Bubbles

Nosecco

Bubbly’s take…

Crisp and pointed, this faux Prosecco most definitely tastes like the real deal. We enjoyed this amongst family at a cabin in woods-style holiday retreat. It is one of the most convincing low-alcohol wines we have tried. The Nosecco is a solid replication of a mainstream Prosecco, with its own underlying and effervescent character.

Would go well with…

Pizza!

Where to buy…

Tesco

Categories
Virgin Bubbles

Freixenet Alcohol-free Sparkling

Bubbly’s take…

Marketed as an “alcohol-free” wine, Freixenet sell this under a o.o.% volume label. Unlike many other wines in its peer group, which are frequently de-alcoholised to 0.5%, Freixenet’s alternative may be well-suited to anyone who wants a teetotal night. While very light and delicate to the palate, this quality wine blossoms with the scent and taste of fresh melon and grape.

Would go well with..

Fresh fish or chicken cooked with a light seasoning or sauce, pairing well with lemon, lime or mild cheese. Freixenet have, however, created a refreshing versatile drink, which would also accompany a light desert (of sorbet or ice-cream), cheese or canapés provided these are not too overpowering. Alternatively, afternoon, evening or at night, this makes for a great wine to enjoy on its own.

Where to buy…

Tesco

Categories
Sassy White Wines

Christian Patat Grecanico Bianco (Italy)

Bubbly’s take…

In our view, Christian Patat is an established alchemist of wine. This sagely wine-producer has already garnered a reputation as a wine-producing consultant, who knows where to snap-up the best grapes for his bottles. The Grecanico certainly does not disappoint and evokes warm memories of Tuscan countryside. This fabulous white wine is however Sicilian and packed full of flavours of lush Italian fruits. If you’re a fan of Gavi di Gavi then we think you’ll like this one too! This wine is crisp, flavoursome and refreshing, and one we feel definitely that deserves its place at the dinner table.

Would go well with…

We found this wine a delight to drink. Versatility also seems to be one of its strengths. As such, we think it would pair well with most courses and cuisines but it’s perfectly enjoyable all by itself.

Where to buy…

Naked Wines

Categories
Virgin Bubbles

The Italian Job

Some things with archaic roots, like wine, remain timeless and relevant to contemporary challenges. As medieval Italy grappled with the plague, it developed some ingenious yet practical solutions to beat the bug and keep the country appeased. The so-called “wine windows” were devised as a wise way of maintaining social distance while allowing judicious publicans to serve their eager patrons. Check out this article in the New York Post for the full story! YouTube also has a video of some of Florence’s classic wine windows…

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Virgin Bubbles

Your Champagne Needs You

In reality, it should be no surprise. Everyone who visits this site will know about (or have been affected by) the CoViD 19 pandemic in some way. It certainly has had a manifest effect on the way we’ve been able to drink and enjoy bubbles – our favourite Champagne bars are only just reopening after many long months. As summer in Europe reaches its zenith, many unfortunate Champagne houses (and other wineries) face a constellation of challenges. Waning demand, diminished wine tourism and a neglected harvest certainly aren’t helping even some of the most established Champagne maisons. We’ll definitely be doing our bit to help out the industry and we hope the Champagne-lovers will do what they can to support this timeless wine-making tradition.

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Fabulous News!

Waitrose Wine Cellar Discounts

A boon to cheer you from those lockdown blues! Summer has arrived and – as traditional and quintessentially British grocers – Waitrose have decided it’s high time for us all to enjoy some Pimm’s and lemonade. There are myriad discounts across the Waitrose cellar, including offers on bubbles, white, red and rosé wines. But get there quick – prices and stocks can’t last forever!

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Fabulous News!

Brexit no Blocker to Bubbles

As the world continues to grapple with the CoViD 19 crisis, Brexit – a well-cited European problem – has largely fell out of the headlines of British and European papers. With the United Kingdom set to withdraw from its pre-existing trade commitments with the European Union on 31 December 2020 and little progress on a new free-trade treaty, British wine-lovers and Contingental wine-makers may fear the end of the free movement of goods across the English Channel. However, noting the UK as largest export destination for Champagne, French wine-makers seem well-prepared for even a hard Brexit and confident the British market will retain its penchant for bubbles.

Categories
Virgin Bubbles

Tesco Low Alcohol Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

Bubbly’s take…

While we don’t usually review “own-brand” wine, we had to post something about this refreshing Spanish Sauvignon Blanc. While dealcoholised to <0.5%, we felt this sparkling white came surprisingly close to the real thing. It’s well-priced and characterful, bringing a welcome depth of flavour typically not found in its peer group.

Would go well with…

Finger sandwiches or afternoon tea.

Where to buy…

Tesco