Alcohol-free wine. It's almost a taboo subject, like vegan sausage rolls. But it really shouldn't be. If you enjoy the taste of wine but, for whatever reason, can't or won't drink alcohol, it's a bit of a lifesaver.
Eisberg Alcohol-Free wine
I was excited at the prospect of Eisberg alcohol-free sparkling wine. I've tried alcohol-free wine before though and not been a huge fan. I've found that, as with a lot of low-alcohol wines, there's an overpowering sweetness to it. It's not unpleasant, but it doesn't necessarily taste of actual wine. Eisberg Sparkling is very different.
The foamy bubbles sitting at the surface didn't render this bottle quite as appetising as I would've liked, but I needn't have been concerned. From the first sip, I was shocked by the dry taste and excitedly proclaimed that I would happily drink it all night (despite there being a bottle of Cava in the fridge which, needless to say, remained unopened the entire evening).
Of course, the lack of that alcoholic kick of regular sparkling wine is very apparent; I'm not going to lie and tell you it tastes exactly like Bolly. It doesn't. But it doesn't overcompensate the lack of alcohol with too much sweetness. In fact, it's made in the same way as normal wine, but with the alcohol removed in the last stage.
Ironically, while you might find yourself absent-mindedly working your way through a whole bottle of champagne on some regrettable occasions, when you're at liberty to do the same minus the excruciating hangover, you're not really tempted. One or two glasses of Eisberg Sparkling is satisfying enough - most likely because it doesn't have a dehydrating effect on your body. And at less than 33 calories per 125ml glass, that's just a bonus.
When you're in a situation where you don't want to drink wine with your friends and family for moral, health or religious reasons, and yet don't want to feel left out clutching a glass of coke (which is absolutely FINE, by the way), Eisberg have a range of six bottles to choose from: Sparkling Blanc, Sparkling Rose, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose and Sauvignon Blanc.
We tried the Sparkling Blanc and Sparkling Rose which are just perfect for those times when you really want to celebrate with a bottle of bubbly but need to watch your alcohol intake; baby showers, pre-wedding excitement, being the designated driver or end of exam celebrations (when you're still very much underage).
Eisberg Sparkling is available at Asda, Waitrose and Ocado at just £4, with the rest of the range available in most supermarkets at £3.50.