Review: Zeronimo Non-Alcoholic Rosé
/
It’s nearing the end of summer, and most of us probably aren’t thinking about rosé wines as much as we would in the first balmy days of spring. However, it’s my great pleasure to finally be able to review the Zeronimo Rosé for you.
No doubt you’ve never even considered Austria as a rosé producing country, but they do in fact have some of the best grapes to make structured and complex rosés. Austrian wineries are currently producing some of the best dynamic, complex and food-friendly pink wines in Europe, according to the official Austrian Wine website.
Many of you already know a lot about Zeronimo as I’ve written about their wines pretty extensively, but if you’re new here is a quick recap.
Zeronimo is a high-end non-alcoholic Austrian wine brand, founded by Katja Bernegger. Katja is the wife of Patrick Bayer, owner and head winemaker at renowned Austrian winery Heribert Bayer and the winemaker for Zeronimo as well. Heribert Bayer is known for the depth of their cellar and the quality and precision of their winemaking. Zeronimo is a marriage between these high-end premium wines and a mindful option that reflects the original wine, just without the alcohol.
All Zeronimo wine reviews can be found here
The Zeronimo Rosé was first dreamed up in late winter 2024, but it took two years for Patrick and Katja to develop the right wine that met their expectations. Knowing the range of Austria’s autochthonous (native) red grape varietals, they knew they had the opportunity to make a wine that was structured and mineral, not just primary fruit but with a herbal aspect as well.
They chose a blend of 50% Blaufrankish and 50% Zweigelt from their Nechenmarkt vineyards, the same vineyards they use for their famous Leonis Blend. Nechenmarkt is located in the Burgenland region of Austria, which is well-known for its mineral-rich soils. More on that later in the tasting notes, but this is in fact a powerful combination for a fresh but rich rosé.
I personally only drank rosés in the heat of summer, when I was on a dock at the lake. I haven’t found a non-alcoholic rosé yet that meets MY expectations of a suitable replacement…until today. Here are my tasting notes.
Aroma
The first aroma I detected was something softly savoury, like hay or straw, followed by strawberry, white flower and hint of mineral. Very lovely and complex without the cooked fruit that so many other non-alcoholic rosés have.
Taste
It’s so hard to describe this wine because there’s almost too much to talk about. I’ll start with the enormous amount of lift from aromatics that just leap out of the glass! There are juicy notes of stone fruit, strawberry and rhubarb, balanced out perfectly with a sweet but bright acidity that practically makes your mouth water. And yes, some soft herby aromatics as well. It’s dry and there is just a hint of sweet tannins (I wouldn’t have noticed this without a note from Patrick the winemaker - thank you!).
It’s got a super fresh taste… so so fresh! But it’s also savory and herbaceous at the same time. There is a little bit of umami as well, which makes the finish a little creamy. As mentioned above, I think this is due to the mineral-rich soil the grapes are grown in, combined with the spiciness of both of the grapes.
Mouthfeel and Experience
The best thing about this non-alcoholic wine is that it’s delicate without being thin. There’s a medium body, but at the same time it manages to be light and refreshing. A lot of non-alcoholic rosés are either sweetened and heavy or unsweetened and thin. This n/a rosé is neither - Zeronimo has nailed the texture and mouthfeel perfectly!
What to pair with Zeronimo Rosé
Winemaker Patrick Bayer says this wine is perfect for the summer season, especially with foods. I agree! There is enough substance to this non-alcoholic rosé for it to be paired with both side dishes and lighter main dishes like grilled fish, octopus, cheese-based savory pastries, white pizza and definitely sushi.
Overall
Zeronimo Rosé is probably one of the only truly dry and complex non-alcoholic rosés in the category. It’s absolute perfection and an elegant masterclass in how to make this style of wine without alcohol, in a way that makes you feel like the alcohol isn’t even important.
**Serving note: Keep it chilled, but slightly open the screw cap for aeration about 30 minutes before serving. Don’t let it warm up too much, so when serving, keep it in an ice bucket if you can.
Score: 98 points
Where to Buy Zeronimo Rosé:
Shop from the EU, UK, US or Canada at ZeronimoWine.com
**Free samples were provided for review purposes; this is not a paid editorial and all opinions are my own.
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.
