Consumer NZ’s team taste tested non-alcoholic sparkling wines and found the favourite was also the cheapest.
An $11.99 bottle of booze-free bubbles beat the competition with its impressive taste and similarity to alcoholic bubbly.
Consumer staff selected eight widely available non-alcoholic bottles of bubbly and tested them for flavour, similarity to alcoholic bubbles and whether the tasters would purchase the wines to quaff at home.
"If you're looking for a booze-free option for yourself or friends or family on Christmas day, we have good news. The cheapest bottle of bubbly we tried was also the best!" says Abby Damen, communications and campaigns adviser.
"The top pick was Edenvale Sparkling Cuvee, which scored 7.8 out of 10. It got the most points for how similar it tasted to alcoholic bubbly."
At the other end of the scale, Brown Brothers Prosecco Zero scored a measly 4.7 out of 10. Testers commented on its flat watered-down flavour, and most said they would avoid the bottle.
“Although the majority of our tasting team didn’t like this fizz, one tester said it was their favourite of the bunch.”
Coming in as second favourite was Giesen’s 0% New Zealand Sparkling Brut, which tasters described as a good non-alcoholic alternative to sparkling wine. Just 0.1 point behind that sat Tread Softly Everything Except Prosecco Alcohol Gently Removed – the Consumer team rated its “excellent bubbliness”, but it lost points for its sour aftertaste. The price of these two options are $19 and $16.49 respectively – significantly pricier than the fizz that took the top spot.
Non-alcoholic offerings are gaining in popularity, with the non-alcoholic drinks market valued at around $2.4 trillion.
How to keep the bubbles in your bubbly
For people who want their bottle of bubbly to see them through Christmas into Boxing Day, Consumer has some tips to stop your fizz going flat.
Cover it – Try to cover the opening of the bottle with tinfoil or clingfilm. This will help keep the carbon dioxide – aka the bubbles – in the bottle.
Use a stopper – A reusable stopper can help prevent your sparkling wine losing its sparkle. It has the same function as a makeshift tinfoil cover but has the benefit of an airtight seal. The downside is you will need to have one at home ready to go – it’s unlikely you will track one down on Christmas Day.
Don’t bother with a teaspoon – This old-time classic could end in tears. The carbon dioxide can easily escape, leaving you clutching a glass of flat fruit juice.
