Review: Newblood Red Blend Is a Fantastic Non-Alcoholic Aussie Shiraz

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It’s not often that I open a non-alcoholic red wine and am blown away. In fact, I had really really low expectations of this one and was planning on writing a ‘wines that I dumped’ column this week. But here we are! I’m pleasantly surprised I can still be surprised, but it’s a good sign there is still innovation in this category.

Newblood Non-Alcoholic Red Blend is produced in Australia at a winery called Nugan Estates in New South Wales. This region of Australia is known for its plummy shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. Nugan grows vines at five vineyards across the province and has been recognised as one of Australia’s best winemakers. As with many wine producers these days, they are applying their winemaking skills to creating a non-alcoholic option so everyone can enjoy the elegance of Australian red wine.

One thing to note is that some bottles are labelled as Non-Alcoholic Red Blend while others are labelled as a shiraz - either way, it’s the same liquid in the bottle, it just depends on where you buy it.

In my opinion, shiraz jumped the shark in the late 00s and early 10s when it became the varietal du jour (as happens in the wine industry and with consumers). However, it is a great varietal to dealcoholize because of its jammy and earthy notes. The challenge is removing alcohol from a typical high ABV liquid - lower alcohol wines are easier to dealcoholize, in general. But to my surprise, the team at Nugan have done an exceptional job at capturing the essence and personality of an Australian red and if you love this style of tannic but peppery reds, this is a wine you will not want to put down.

And it’s at a great price to boot. So let’s dive in, mate!

Aroma

On the nose, soft notes of dark fruit, smoke and leather like a lighter shiraz might smell like.

Taste

Wow! was my first reaction. This non-alcoholic red just completely delivers on the shiraz expectation. There are tart but juicy notes of red berries and red currant with a softer hint of plum. Great tannins and a hint of oak, with a balanced complexity.

Mouthfeel and Experience

One thing I love about this wine is that it doesn’t fall apart in the middle. It has a great texture and a nice medium body that stays put all the way through.

What to Pair With Newblood Red

This is a perfect wine for grilled steak, juicy prime rib burgers, or a savoury roast chicken and veggies. The tannins, acidity and red currant notes will help cut through the fat and the juicy berry notes will be an excellent counterpoint to the umami flavours in the meat. But you can also just drink this on its own in front of the fire…and that’s where you’ll find me finishing this bottle!

Overall

It’s ironic because a non-alcoholic winemaker and I were talking recently, and she suggested mixing two different red wines together as a test - one had great tannins and taste but a thinner mouthfeel and one that was juicy and rich but lacking in tannins or complexity. Both were good but could be improved. The Newblood red is definitely the best of both worlds with its dry tannins balanced out with a light acidity, and a tight juiciness and flavour that doesn’t fall apart. I absolutely love this wine and for the price point - are you kidding? A case is on lockdown for the holidays for me!

Score: 97 points

ALL WINE REVIEWS

How I rank wines (based on IWSC standards):

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.