'I tried Aldi's expert loved bubble-free prosecco and it was an interesting experience'

Daily Record

a day ago

It's been fairly warm over here in the UK, with the Met Office confirming we've had the sunniest spring ever. And for many of us, that means enjoying drinks in the garden.
Now, as someone who enjoys a bit of a refreshing tipple, I'll never say no to a good glass, or bottle, of prosecco. Let's face it, nothing says summer quite like cracking open a bottle of bubbly with friends at a BBQ, garden party or picnic.
I often know exactly what I am setting myself up for when I get a glass of this tipple. That being said, Aldi has once again decided to up the stakes with the launch of the UK's very first bubbles-free prosecco.
The German discounter's Still Prosecco DOC, which made its debut earlier this month, costs just £5.99 for a 70cl and it has already been backed by experts who have said that it could be "the wine of summer."
Now, I can't speak for everyone else, but for me, the whole point of prosecco is, well the bubbles. Nevertheless, I was thoroughly intrigued by Aldi's latest invention and managed to get my hands on a bottle, with my full, honest thoughts detailed below.
The same prosecco taste minus the fizz
Despite what my initial thoughts were, Aldi confirmed that its Still Prosecco DOC boasts the same taste everyone knows and loves, just minus the iconic bubbles for a "unique twist."
Made from the same Glera grapes as its fizzy sibling, the finishing taste is said to be "fresh, fruity, and floral on the nose with concentrated orchard fruits on the palate.
"Off-dry, the wine finishes with a subtle honeyed note, whilst bold acidity keeps it refreshing."
A subtle aroma and a crisp taste
First up, as soon as the cork was removed, I will admit that the lack of 'pop' that usually accompanies a bottle of prosecco was initially a little weird.
Usually, when I open any bottle of fizz or wine, I am hit with an aroma of some sort, but I did find that this one was quite faint at first. While some experts have said they got the taste of sharp fruits as soon as they poured a glass, I initially found it to be more muted.
However, after the bottle was open for a little while, the scent may have matured, as the sharper notes of apples and pears did start to come through. Although the notes were not as strong as they usually would be with a bottle of bubbly, so I am not sure if the lack of fizz added to that.
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As for the taste itself, my fears of it tasting just like prosecco that had gone flat were thrown out the window, as it was surprisingly, sharp, zingy and crisp. Weirdly enough, I could taste the prosecco, just without the bubbles, which was the oddest experience I have had with a tipple.
For me, it very much felt like a very sharp tasting white whine, although I am not entirely sure that this is what the supermarket was going for?
Overall verdict
Overall, I have to say that Aldi's latest invention, a prosecco without bubbles, is certainly an interesting experience that's probably going to divide a few fizz loyalists.
While I didn't dislike it, the idea of there being no bubbles is quite hard to grasp, especially since the wine did still boast all the same tastes that I associate with the beloved tipple.
However, once you manage to get past the unique formula, it's actually quite refreshing. For me, I'd personally class it as more of a white wine, not a prosecco, but that's just semantics and I am sure everyone is different.
Is it as fun as a bottle of bubbly? Let's be real, it's definitely not. Although, I'd argue that it feels a little more grown up and will probably pair well with summer dishes when dining al-fresco style.
If you want to make up your mind, then Aldi's Still Prosecco (70cl) is available in stores nationwide for £5.99.