The funny thing I’ve come to understand about sobriety is that there are all kinds of “firsts”: first sober party, first sober New Years, you get the point. Now that I’ve been sober for almost a year and a half, I thought I’d ticked off most of these firsts, but it turns out I was wrong.
Going into a liquor store and asking to see the non-alcohol section-something that led me to buy Fre Sparkling Brut)-was my latest first. I share my thoughts about this NA wine in this Fre Sparkling Brut review.
A Quick Look At Fre Sparkling Brut wine
Fre Sparkling Brut is an alcohol-removed wine manufactured by its sister company, Sutter Home Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, California.
The wine is first made using traditional methods to create high-quality, complex flavors. Afterward, using a process called spinning cone, Fre removes the alcohol from the wine, creating a tasty and aromatic drink sans alcohol.
It makes an excellent complement to creamy seafood pasta, sushi, fried chicken, nutty cheeses, or even just potato chips.
Fre Sparkling Brut Review
Looks & Aroma
Let’s talk about the bottle first. Overall, I like the look of the bottle. While it’s far from the most attractive sparkling wine I’ve seen, I like that it definitely doesn’t scream alcohol-free.
I think that’s so important when you’re trying to convince people to buy a non-alcoholic drink, especially a fancier one like sparkling wine.
I also appreciated the quotation on the bottle “True happiness lies in the freedom to be yourself.” Not only is this a nod to the company’s name but it’s also a nice reminder to sober people that we don’t need to hide behind alcohol.
Fre Sparkling Brut pours a pale straw color. There was a satisfying pop when I released the cork but as soon as I poured the wine, the carbonation was fairly minimal.
As promised, I smelled apples when I stuck my nose in the glass. However, the pear aroma eluded me.
Taste
I found Fre Sparkling Brut to be really apple-y. In fact, it reminded me of when I would drink sparkling apple cider as a kid, albeit with less sugar.
It was still pretty sweet for sparkling wine, especially one described as a brut. That said, I didn’t find it too sweet.
The flavor was well-balanced, but as with the aroma, I had a tough time tasting the strawberry because of how prominent the apple flavor was.
Customer Reviews
I wanted to get a better sampling of what customers think about Fre Sparkling Brut, so I went digging on Amazon and Total Wine & More. Overall, Fre Sparkling Brut has a 4.2-out-of-5-star rating on Amazon with more than 400 customer reviews, and a 4.1-out-of-5-star rating on Total Wine & More.
Fre Sparkling Brut Ingredients
Fre Sparkling Brut contains the following ingredients: dealcoholized white wine, grape juice, grape concentrate, natural flavors, carbon dioxide, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and potassium metabisulfite.
Sodium benzoate is a common ingredient added to sodas and other beverages to increase acidity flavors and preserve shelf life. Used in wine, potassium sorbate is an antimicrobial that protects spoilage from yeast and mold.
Finally, potassium metabisulfite is used to protect the natural flavors, clarity, and color of the wine.
Fre Sparkling Brut Calories
According to my bottle, an 8oz (240mL) serving Fre Sparkling Brut contains 90 calories, 25mg of sodium, 25g of carbohydrates, 19g of sugar, and 0g of protein. The juice content is listed as 35%.
| Avg Quantity Per Serving (240ml/8oz) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 90 kcal |
| Total Carbohydrates | 25g |
| – Sugar | 1g |
| Sodium | 25mg |
Final Verdict Of My Fre Sparkling Brut Review
Having lived in France for three years, there’s a special place in my heart for sparkling wine. Something about the curve of the bottle, the audible “pop” of the cork, and the feeling of a flute in my hand is so satisfying.
I got all of that with Fre Sparkling Brut and I’m so glad. While I’ll always favor beer, sometimes it’s fun to be a bit fancy and sip on a non-alcoholic champagne, you know?
I thought Fre Sparkling Brut was pretty tasty and definitely went back for seconds but I was bothered by a few things. First, the flavor is really apple-y. It’s not too much but it does make you feel like you’re drinking sparkling apple cider more than wine.
On a related note, this is called a brut, but I didn’t find it dry at all. On the contrary, it was quite sweet. If you’re looking for something dry, this is not your drink.
The other thing was the amount of carbonation. There just wasn’t enough. As soon as I poured it, I could see how few bubbles were in my glass.
This was confirmed upon tasting as well. It also seemed like the bubbles slowed a lot in just a few minutes after opening.
Overall, I would buy this again if I was celebrating something and wanted a drink to match the mood, but I don’t think this would make it into my weekly rotation because I prefer drier wines.
Best For:
- If you enjoy sweeter wines
- Those who like their apple notes in wine
Not Recommended For:
- Those who like dry wines
- Might be too heavy on the apple note for some
Where to Buy Fre Sparkling Brut
If you’re located in the United States, check out online retailer Proof No More to find Fre Sparkling Brut, as well as the brand’s other varietals (free delivery available).
Other Fre Sparkling Brut FAQs
Is Fre Sparkling Brut Alcohol-Free?
Fre’s Sparkling Brut contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. This is about as low as you can find for most non-alcoholic beverages.
If you’re still worried because the alcohol percentage isn’t zero, know that many foods and beverages naturally contain this amount of alcohol. Some examples include apple juice, ripe bananas, and yogurt.
Is Fre Sparkling Brut Gluten-Free?
As you would expect from sparkling wine, Fre Sparkling Brut is gluten-free.
We’ve got lots more gluten-free wine recommendations, so be sure to check out our Gluten Free Non-Alcoholic Wine Guide (Plus 7 of the Best Wines We Love!).
Is Fre Sparkling Brut Vegan?
There are no animal products or byproducts in this wine, so we’re giving it a thumbs up for vegans.
Related: Is Non-Alcoholic Wine Vegan? Plus 5 Of The Best We Like!
Is Fre Sparkling Brut Healthy?
Answering whether or not something is healthy is tricky because it’s such a subjective question. The answer depends on your diet, your current health, and your nutrition goals.
However, in the interest of giving a concrete answer, Fre Sparkling Brut is pretty middle of the road healthwise.
Obviously, being alcohol-free is a big plus, as is the number of calories (90 per 8oz serving). As a comparison, that’s less than half the calories of soda or traditional wine.
On the negative side of things, it contains 25g of carbs and 19g of sugar. Keep in mind that there are no additional sugars added, but this is still higher than I’d like in sparkling wine.
Ingredients-wise, there are a few things that make my eyebrows furrow. Namely, the ever-mysterious “natural flavors” and sodium benzoate (used to increase the acidity flavor and as a preservative).
Now, these are far from being terrible ingredients, but they do indicate some artificiality, something I try to avoid whenever possible.
With all of that in mind, I think this is a perfectly acceptable drink to have once in a while, but it’s not something I’d be drinking every day.
Related: Does Non-Alcoholic Wine Have Sugar? We Compare The Top NA Wines
Is Fre Sparkling Brut Kosher?
Unfortunately, although Fre adheres to strict production practices, its products have not been kosher certified.
Is Fre Sparkling Brut Safe for Pregnancy?
As it contains only a tiny amount of alcohol (less than 0.5%), Fre Sparkling Brut is a great alcohol-free alternative if you’re craving something bubbly while pregnant. Even better, you can serve it as a celebratory beverage at your baby shower!
Related: Can You Drink Non-Alcoholic Wine While Pregnant? [+ 4 Recommendations]
We hope you enjoyed this Fre Sparkling Brut review! For more non-alcoholic wine reviews, check below!
A sweet, apple-y non-alcoholic sparkling wine that will fit in perfectly at your next party.