301815 Tue Apr 04 19:25:36 -0700 2006 4 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1685069 Being a non-drinker, I've been trying the varieties of Ariel non-alcoholic wine. The news is generally not good. chardonnay - drinkable enough to be worth the price cabernet - basically expensive grape juice, but good enough in cooking blanc - awful rouge - awful There are two or three other varieties that I haven't tried. I'd be motivated to try the merlot, but otherwise not. They do have the advantage of being low in calories, though, presumably since they lack alcohol. Tue Apr 04 19:25:36 -0700 2006 0 Buford 1 1685160 Wine is not that high in calories to begin with, it just isn't listed. Ariel is classified as a food product so they have to list the calories and it seems to jump out at people Thu Apr 06 07:59:24 -0700 2006 1685069 0 Winemark 1 1685168 I have a minor alcohol adverse reaction/allergy so I don't drink much either. Does Ariel have a non-alcoholic Sparkling Wine? I thought it was an Ariel I had at a party last Xmas and I really liked it. It was pretty dry but had a nice fragrance or nose or whatever. Thu Apr 06 11:52:57 -0700 2006 1685069 0 Alice Patis 2 1685360 Yes they do make Sparkling, but be aware that if you have an allergy to alcohol you might tred lightly. Ariel is a "de-alcoholized wine" and might have some residual elements in it you could react to. Sat Apr 08 10:00:16 -0700 2006 1685168 0 Winemark 2 1685409 Have you by any chance tried Navarro grape juice? They make both a Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Noir variety. They're very sweet (other 'hounds suggest cutting it with club soda or ice cubes), but they have a fantastic fragrance and are very delicious. Even the colors are beautiful. No one would even know you weren't drinking wine! I'm going to start serving these at parties so that designated drivers can feel even more special than the wine drinkers. Sun Apr 09 23:46:48 -0700 2006 1685168 0 nooodles