Sovi Reserve Red Review: Low-sugar, great taste
/Guest contributor Shari Mac, a keto food and entertaining expert is on the hunt for low-sugar, great tasting non-alcoholic wines. Here’s her take on Sovi’s Premium Reserve Red.
I was looking for a new non-alcoholic low-sugar red to try, and after serious consideration, I opted for Sovi Reserve Red, which set me back quite a bit of pocket money. But I was just too curious to see if a non-alcoholic red could justify such a hefty price and also contain less than 2g of sugar per glass.
Sovi operates in Clarksburg, located within Sacramento County, California. This wine region is known for producing world class, traditional wines due to its fabulous terrior. The climate's just right, with warm sunny days and cool breezes from San Francisco Bay and the Delta. Varietal grapes get plenty of time to ripen slowly, thus developing maturity and intense flavors. The soil profile consists of sandy loam to fertile alluvial deposits, providing excellent drainage and nutrient-rich conditions for vine growth.
Julia Littauer, a certified sommelier, and husband Alex, a DipWSET Graduate, are the proud owners of Sovi. As front runners and pioneers in the non-alcoholic wine space, they’re passionate about crafting their non-alcoholic wines using the same methods employed in traditional winemaking. Their approach starts with carefully selected vineyards cultivating premium varietal grapes. By adhering to the traditional wine philosophy, they can vinify top-tier wine that is subsequently dealcoholized. This process results in premium, de-alcoholized bubblies, whites, roses, and reds that maintain their palatability and integrity. In other words, their wines do not require added sugar and additives to taste good. Hence their products are low in sugar.
Made from 58% Tempranillo, 39% Malbec and 3% other grapes grown on a single estate, Sovi Reserve Red demonstrates that dealcoholized wines can compete with their traditional counterparts. After stainless steel fermentation, the wine spent time in both American and French oak.
Pouring a charming brick red color, the wine gradually transforms into a deeper purple hue within 10 minutes. Interestingly, the colour undergoes reverse aging akin to Benjamin Button. But the aromas and palate go in the other direction, maturing gracefully through a little aeration in the glass.
Sovi Reserve Red boasts sophistication. Tempranillo character comes through on the nose and palate with Malbec texture and body. The aroma showcases prominent earthy tones intertwined with subtle hints of black cherries and a distant whisper of leather. On the palate, this earthiness and leather take center stage, followed by bursts of the same dark cherries. With velvety texture, medium body, and delightful but subtle astringency, Sovi Serve Red provides an elegant experience.
Here's the best part for me, a 5-ounce glass (150 mL) possesses only 2 grams of sugar!
Food Pairings: Start the evening with a glass of Sovi Reserve Red partnered with Beef Carpaccio. For the entre, consider Julia Child inspired Coq au Vin. For summer dining, serve the baby with BBQ Fat-Head Pizza topped with Low-Sugar Tomato Sauce, Prosciutto, Fresh Basil, and Medallions of fresh mozzarella.
Score: 95
About Shari Mac, Guest Contributor
After 35 years as a syndicated columnist, International award-winning, best-selling cookbook author, and wine judge of traditional wine, Shari MAC now shares about her passion for non-alcoholic wine low in sugar, the Keto diet, and low-carb lifestyle. Check out her website: ketopaleosharimac.com.
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.
