Review: Oddbird Low Intervention Organic Red

For several months, Canadians have been waiting for a fresh shipment of Oddbird red and white non-alcoholic still wines to land in Canada, so we can happily say the wait is now over. We couldn’t be more excited to review the Oddbird Low Intervention Organic Red, as most of the bottles from this Swedish label are fantastic.

Oddbird is known for its non-alcoholic sparkling wine, and you may have already tried one or more of them as they make some of the best in the world. Their non-alcoholic sparkling rose is at the top of our sparkling list. They also make two organic still wines - a Low Intervention White which we reviewed and loved, and today’s non alcoholic Low Intervention Red.

Although a Swedish brand, this specific Oddbird wine is actually produced in Veneto, the region of Italy that boasts both the coastal star Venice and Verona, the infamous in-land city of star-crossed lovers Romeo & Juliet.

The wine is a blend of pinot noir and merlot, which is actually quite odd - pun intended. Pinot noir is a light, elegant varietal and merlot is a lot juicier and full-bodied. However, in this wine it works and most likely because dealcoholization takes so much out of a wine.

The colour of this wine is a lovely dark brick colour, like a young Barolo from Northern Italy.

The grapes are grown in volcanic soil and aged for 12 months, and to be able to read that on the label is fantastic. Many bottles of non alcoholic wine have very little varietal or production information available.

On the nose, there is a very unique aroma of light dusty hay, berries and blackberries. Nothing overpowering or chemically.

On the palette, this is truly interesting wine. You can taste the remnants of an elegant pinot noir, like a taste memory perhaps, with very light tannins and a whisper of woodsiness. That light elegance is overpowered a little bit by the merlot notes of blackberry but it adds a wonderful, tart fruitiness at the finish.

Most non alcoholic wines have no length to them ie. the ability for a wine’s taste to stay in your mouth after you’ve swallowed it. This is due to the removal of alcohol, which is what powers the longevity of a wine on your palette. The lack of length however is not a hindrance when a non alcoholic wine is well made like the Oddbird Low Intervention Organic Red.

This wine would be even better if slightly chilled, but at room temperature it’s just fine. This would be well matched with very light fish dishes, like salmon or tuna en papillote with lots of real butter and chives. Overall, the Oddbird Low Intervention Organic Red is a more summery wine and a light, bright bottle that easily calls for a second glass.

You can find this wine for roughly $25 at the following retailers in Canada:

DryVariety.com
TheSobrMarket.com
AFBev.ca
SofterDrink.ca
SoftCrush in-store retailers in Western Canada