Wine Review: The Blessings of Saint Viviana Cabernet Sauvignon
/Saint Viviana Non-Alcoholic Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, 97 points
An incredible low-sugar, non-alcoholic red wine from the US
If you’re a boozy red kinda gal, and are watching your wine intake for whatever reason - or completely alcohol-free like me - you know the yearning for a good, solid, dry non-alcoholic red. It’s such an elusive thing, and I’ve written recently about a few barrier breakers in this category. The Saint Viviana Cabernet Sauvignon is literally a sleeper hit and was a surprise entry into this elite list of red wines I approve of as well as my best low-sugar non-alcoholic wine list.
Buy it now at The Zero Proof - 15% off with code MAKEITNONALCOHOLIC.
Where are Saint Viviana wines produced?
Saint Viviana is produced in the U.S. and has two styles of non-alcoholic wine. Their sauvignon blanc is made in Washington State and is a nice, tart reflection of the style - thoroughly enjoyable as a summer wine. *Watch my review of the Saint Viviana non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc over on YouTube.
The Saint Viviana Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in Paso Robles, California. The Paso Robles area has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate typical of coastal Southern California with long, hot, dry summers and extended temperate autumns and springs, a perfect climate for growing big juicy cabernet sauvignon.
The Saint Viviana wines, including the cab sauv, were developed after a year-long process in which a panel of winemakers and sommeliers tasted dozens of wines from all over the Pacific region until they found the right vineyards. When you open the bottle, the premium nature of this dealcoholized wine is very evident.
Aroma
On the nose, there are leather, vanilla and dark cherry notes. It’s so fun to smell because it’s really nailed the cabernet sauvignon aroma.
Taste
On the palette, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the immediate dryness and tannic elements of the Saint Viviana Cabernet Sauvignon - in fact this is the thing that stands out amongst its peers. It’s one of the most dry, tannic non-alcoholic reds in the category. It’s still plenty juicy though. There are ripe black cherry and currant notes, balanced with a slight oakiness, a hint of leather and some playful cocoa on the tongue.
Mouthfeel and Experience
It’s slightly thinner than expected. It’s not as big and beefy as a typical cabernet sauvignon, in fact it’s a little closer to the heft of a California pinot noir. That’s the decieving thing about the non-alcoholic red wine category. An apple isn’t an apple, in other words, the expression of the varietal is always slightly unique from it’s ‘mother’ grape.
Because this really stands out as a more tannic wine than most other non-alcoholic reds, it’s an ideal wine to recommend for a Friday night steak dinner. It has enough dryness and flavour to stand up to steak - although we have not tested this out yet. At the very least, it’s a perfect special occasion wine that will be a treat to pull out for dinner.
Where to buy Saint Viviana Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc
If you’re looking for this in the U.S. you can find it at The Zero Proof. Use code MAKEITNONALCOHOLIC for 20% off your first order.
Not available in Canada yet.
Score: 97 points
WATCH MY REVIEW ON INSTAGRAM:
How we score wines at Some Good Clean Fun:
95 to 100 - An excellent drink with a great personality. An example that stands out among its peers
90 to 94 - An accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.
85 to 89 - A perfectly well-made drink which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.
80 to 84 - An acceptable but simple drink, lacking distinction.
We gave the Saint Viviana Cabernet Sauvignon 97 points because it’s an excellent drink with great personality and stands out in the category. An excellent non-alcoholic wine.
