06 Jan Take a walk on the light side – Matua 2020 “Lighter” Sauvignon Blanc
Sales of “better for you” wines…
those with fewer calories, less sugar and lower alcohol levels…
are steadily increasing as consumers veer
toward healthier lifestyle habits.
The attributes are admirable.
Less is more, right?
But there’s a trade off…an inherent compromise…
with any and every reduced-calorie food/beverage product.
Thus, is “wine lite” worth pursuing?
It’s Wine Thursday!
our weekly look at a good wine
that sells at a reasonable price and is easy to find,
either at your store, online or both.
This week we tried…for the very first time…
a light wine.
We wound up being pleasantly surprised.
Matua leads with the “news you can use”.
The call-out of 80 calories per serving
and 9% alcohol content jumps off the front label
of their “Lighter” Sauvignon Blanc.
Those are significant reductions.
A normal serving of Sauvignon Blanc usually has 120 calories
while the alcohol level typically hovers around 12 1/2-14%.
Does one miss the calories or alcohol?
Actually no.
Does it taste like a normal Sauvignon Blanc?
Actually no…again.
Lighter does have the typical flavors
(grapefruit & lemon) and aromas (freshly-cut grass)
that we associate with Sauvignon Blanc.
However, those flavors are definitely muted.
It’s refreshing and crisp…perhaps not as bracing and tart
as a regular top-shelf SB…but it doesn’t miss by much.
It’s an unavoidable truth: wine contains considerable calories.
For those who would like to cut some of those calories and are willing
to sacrifice a portion of the taste and balance of regular wine,
Matua 2020 Lighter Sauvignon Blanc is a viable option.
Total Wine carries Lighter for $10.99.
It’s at Albertsons, Safeway and QFC for $12.99.
It’s on the shelf at Fred Meyer for $14.99.
You can order it from The Wine Buyer for $9.99
Empire Wine has it for $9.95
Wine Deals.com sells it for $11.99
and Mission Wine & Spirits has it for the same price, $11.99