In the last post, we introduced you to the producer Acid League, explained what a Wine Proxy is, and gave our tasting notes of Nightshade, a wine proxy meant to resemble a dry red with lots of tannins. This time we’re introducing the Acid League Sauvage—a white wine proxy made with sauvignon blanc grapes.
In this Review you will learn:
- What does Sauvage taste like?
- Why I like it better than Nightshade
- My Overall Recommendation
- Ingredient Call Outs for Acid League Sauvage
- Where can I buy Acid League?
Sorry I don’t have a video! I liked it so much I drank it all before I could film a review!
After a super busy week with one too many indulgences in fast food, I was really looking forward to a relaxing evening with a healthier meal and a #FancyAF drink to unwind with. After seeing countless videos of that viral salad with green goddess dressing, and I wanted to give it a try. It looked crunchy and refreshing. Just what I needed!
So after a quick run to Sprouts, washing and prepping my ingredients in my brand new salad spinner, I finally opened up the Acid League Sauvage. It was easier to open the bottle this time, and what I got it open, I could immediately begin to experience the fragrance and was even more excited to take my first sip.
Acid League Sauvage Tasting Notes
Like the Nightshade, the Sauvage is not a de-alcoholized wine—again that’s not the intention of the product. But pouring it from the bottle into a wine glass makes it a similar experience. This one had a pale yellow color looked exactly like a nicely chilled white wine.
On the nose, this one was immensely fruity with notes of melon with just a hint of vinegar. Swirling around the glass, it doesn’t have the same feel as wine. It didn’t have the same tears, which makes sense because it’s a low sugar product. But what does not really compute for me is that this is 37% fruit juice because to me it tasted nothing like that!
On the first sip, you definitely get really light notes of vinegar. But after you get past that initial surprise, the flavor really becomes quite pleasant. You can really taste the Green Apple and Sauvignon Blanc grapes which are balanced by a strong mineral quality that is likely brought in from the cedar, spruce, juniper and caraway. This makes sense because vinegars tend to draw out the minerals from the herbs and spices in infusions more so than other solvents.
So ultimately, the flavor profile was similar to that of a Sauvignon Blanc or a Sancerre—maybe not the best of those varieties, but at least an average one that you could get at a bar. That is still better than an overly sweet beverage with no complexity! In my humble opinion, it actually has more flavor and body than the Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay even though the Noughty is a de-alcoholized wine.
When it comes to mouth feel, the Sauvage felt a little more syrupy than the Nightshade. It felt heavier on the palate, and not in a way that is similar to a wine. It was heavier. So it was a bit difficult to drink a lot of it at a time. For this bottle, I split it up into four different occasions, each with a full and satisfying pour.
Why I like it better than the Nightshade
Ultimately, this was a wine proxy that was a proxy. It was close enough to the real thing where it met my expectations that had been built up by the name “Wine Proxy” and by the wine bottle it came in. For me, I love the minerality of dry white wines and steer clear of the super sweet Pinot Grigios. My usual order for white is an oaked Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc, or a Sancerre, so this was right up my alley.
It’s easy enough to drink on its own or to pair with food! And this one went really well with that viral green goddess salad! I made my salad dressing a little spicy with a serrano pepper and modified with lots of cilantro. The fresh garden flavors complemented the herbal and mineral flavors of the wine to create one truly refreshing meal that I would absolutely want to enjoy again.
My Overall Recommendation For The Acid League Sauvage
I would definitely buy the Acid League Sauvage to satisfy the white wine craving—especially if I wanted one with probiotic benefits!
Ingredient Call Outs
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Contains Sulfites
- Low in sugars (roughly 9 grams)
Where can I buy Acid League Wine Proxies?
You can buy directly via Acid League for the best prices. Shipping is free for all orders over $125, and for orders under $125, shipping is a flat rate $7.50.
