Frizero “Romeo Bianco” Alto Adige, Italy (Alcohol 0%, Residual Sugar 18 g/l) Various retail stores (Marilu’s Market, Harvest Wagon, Sober Sips, Vincenzo’s) between $26.99 to $28.99 (750ml glass bottle)
I’m continually on the lookout for interesting non-alcoholic beverages, either for my sober partner or for when I feel like taking a bit of a break myself. Over the summer I was introduced to this “Prosecco” look/taste-alike, and was quite impressed.
Made from Garganega, Fernanda, and Pinot Grigio in Alto Adige, the resultant wine is carbonated after cold membrane dealcoholisation, hence the carbon dioxide on the list of ingredients (or which there are three: alcohol-free beverage obtained from total wine dealcoholisation, grape extract, carbon dioxide). While this particular method of adding a sparkle can often lead to bubbles that are a little too large for my liking, Frizero do a pretty decent job this this stuff, although I have discovered that it shows much better if really well chilled, so be sure to keep it on ice or in the fridge.
On the nose one will find green apple, pear, and very appealing orchard blossom florality. In the mouth it is nice and crisp, the acidity nicely balancing out that residual sugar. It tastes pretty dry, so there’s certainly a good balance achieved here. Despite the lack of booze, the finish is pretty decent, and does that nifty wee trick of making one reach for another glass.
Be on the look out for their “Juliet Rosato” too, their pink take on the “Romeo Bianco” (Romeo and Juliet, get it?). The pink one is made with Corvina and Corvinone, and while it tastes slightly fleshier and weightier, it displays the same kind of enjoyable equilibrium on the palate.
I feel that these booze-free sparkling wines are getting better and better, and this is a super example of what is being made these days.
(Four out of a possible five apples)
