Let's all blow a raspberry to January's abstinence.

From Etsy

Happy New Year!

Here at Barnett HQ, we drank enough fizz to sail a small ship in, bickered to ‘Cranium’ and suffered every second on the 1^st. A perfect start to the year.

On the 2^nd, I joined a gym and promised to get fit/drink less/be a better person/yadah yadah yadah. 

That said, I’m not going for the no-alcohol-in-January promise; I just haven’t got it in me. I have no excuse other than my mother told me ‘a little of what you love does you good’ (note term ‘little’) – thanks Mum. To compensate for my inner evil, I have taken a look at the naturally lower ABV drinks that you may wish to switch to during January. It really depends how much of them you drink, but they are certainly a step in the right direction.

To be classified as a wine, an ABV of 8.5% must be achieved by the winemaker. Some German wines are allowed to go down to 6.5% ABV. This is due to their cool climate. English wines are also commonly lower and ABVs around 11% are usual for both countries.  The benefit to the cooler climate = less sugar. Less sugar = less alcohol. So, rather than a reduced alcohol wine-like drink, these can be really lovely, well balanced wines that are lighter in the bad stuff.  To counteract the usual higher acidity levels, some sugar can be left unfermented. This helps balance the taste of the wine as well as reduce the ABV. Perfect. 

Dr. Loosen Riesling, 8.5% ABV (Sainsbury’s £7.49 for 75cl)

This is delicious. Aromatic, fresh and light, with a slight sweetness and good acidity. It drinks well alone (or goes well with a Chinese if you fall off the waggon completely).

There are approximately 70 calories (1.1 units) in 125ml. Around the same as a plain Hobnob. I know what I’d prefer. (Compared to last week’s Rioja which is around 119 calories for a 125ml glass).

                                                    

Sparkle in January

Just because New Year has come and gone, don’t push away the Prosecco. Don’t chuck your Cava or abandon the Asti.  Certainly do not conceal the Champers… (enough!?!). Alliteration aside, fizz can be a good option for the health conscious. Rather than your usual fizz, look for Champagne with ‘Nature’ on the label. This means no ‘dosage’ is used (topping up with sweet liquid just before the cork is put in). This has around 65 calories per 125 ml glass.

An awful moment of realisation when you scrutinise your booze:

125ml glass of regular (i.e. not ‘Nature’) Champagne (1 unit) equals one chocolate digestive (86 calories).

25ml whisky (1 unit) is a plain Hobnob (67 calories).

250ml glass of wine (3.3 units) or a pint of beer (2.2 units) would be a slice of Victoria sponge (196 calories).

One pint of cider (2.6 units) is a sugar doughnut (210 calories).

It’s Champers and Scotch during January then….

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Cheers! x