FitVine Pinot Noir
Alcohol Name: FitVine
Alcohol Type: Pinot Noir
Alcohol Content: 13.9%, 27.8 Proof
Price Point: Lower-Mid, $20, order online at https://www.fitvinewine.com/pages/all-wines
Nose: Black cherry, cedar
Flavor Profile: Black cherry, orange blossoms
Bottom Line: This wine features a lower sugar and carbohydrate content than typical reds. It is ideal for someone with dietary restrictions, but outside of that audience, it is more of a gimmick than anything. It is an average wine sold at an inflated price simply for the attraction of being “fit” and “healthy.”
FitVine offers many different types of wine, including whites and reds made from California grapes. FitVine wines are all made gluten-free and have no additives, which is appealing to anyone with dietary restrictions. The processes used to make FitVine wine essentially make it lower in categories of nutrition, such as sugar content and carbohydrates.
When I first poured the glass of Pinot Noir, I immediately noticed how thin and light it was. I had heard about this wine and done a little research, so I understood it to be a type of “diet” wine and was expecting it to be a little different from a regular Pinot Noir. The nose was pretty standard for a Pinot Noir: it was filled with black cherry and cedar.
When I tasted this wine was really when I noticed a big difference. The initial taste was pleasant with black cherry and a hint of orange blossom. The finish, however, is what was different. It was very light and almost bitter. The wine itself was very smooth, but due to the lower sugar content, the overall taste was less flavorful than regular wine.
I am not sure that I would recommend FitVine as a healthy alternative to regular wine. The difference in overall nutritional value is not substantial enough to make it worth drinking. For those with dietary restrictions or lifestyle goals this might fit in, but alcohol is still alcohol. If you like drinking a specific wine, drink it in moderation. Don’t substitute it with something just for the sake of being “healthier.”