Sober October Spotlight: Freixenet

The world’s leading Cava brand has a fresh new look and taste, and I couldn't let Sober October pass without putting the spotlight on the great work done by Freixenet to enter the non-alc space with authority. With two top quality non-alc bottlings in production, both their Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling White & Rosé have a suggested retail price of $12. They feature a low calorie and low sugar non-alcoholic drinking experience to have everyone feel included at the table. Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Wines can be purchased nationally from Total Wine & Drizly.

The inaugural bottling of Freixenet Cava was released in 1914, made by a couple named Pedro Ferrer & Dolores Sala who were both from Catalonian winemaking families. Pedro’s nickname was “El Freixenet”, named after his family’s ranch “La Freixeneda”, which means ash tree grove in Catalan. They married in 1889, coinciding with the arrival of phylloxera in the area that decimated the family vineyards, as well as much of Europe's vineyard land. The couple found the resolve to replant their land with white varietals, intending to produce sparkling wine. Once the had the quality they were after, the first bottles were released with Pedro’s childhood nickname on the label. Fast forward to modern day, the brand is one of the most respected sparkling wine producers on the planet, and the leading Cava brand. Putting out a non-alcoholic product true to its origin pushed the winery to comprise a blend of local Catalonian grape varieties Airén and Xarel·lo. Freixenet Alcohol-Removed wines were created to taste like premium sparkling wines thanks in part to a proprietary vacuum technology that extracts the alcohol gently while maintaining high quality characteristics and quality in the wine.

Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling White offers tropical, citrus hints with persistent bubbles. Lively, fruity, and especially refreshing. The well balanced acidity and the medium size bubbles produce a very pleasant mouth feel. Best enjoyed on its own as aperitif, or paired with charcuterie and cheese boards, as well as grilled meats and vegetables. It is vinified with a gentle press, fermented and filtrated to obtain a 10% alcohol-by-volume wine. The alcohol is then removed by vaccuum distillation at 40˚ Celsius. Followed by fining and filtration. C02 and SO2 are adjusted, and just before bottling there is a cold sterile filtration so the wine has a cleanliness about it. Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Rosé features notes of wild berries along with floral and tropical fruit notes. Enjoy this subtle fruity wine on its own or pair it with fresh seafood, white meats, and summer fruit tarts.