Vignette Wine Country Soda

Vignette Wine Country Soda is an all-natural, non alcoholic, lightly carbonated soda sweetened with fresh wine grape concentrate. Vignette is the creation of San Francisco Bay Area entrepreneur Pat Galvin. Galvin’s curiosity for good food and wine began when he spent a semester in Provence while studying for his B.A. in European Studies and French at Vanderbilt University. He subsequently settled in Berkeley and his proximity to the wine country of Northern California combined with a growing interest in gourmet soft drinks served as his inspiration for Vignette Wine Country Soda. He noted that no one was using high quality wine grapes for any type of soft drink. Although Galvin officially launched Vignette Wine Country Soda with the crush season of 2006, carting bottles of the effervescent wine-based soda to local stores, cafes and events, it was not until 2007 that Vignette started appearing in speciality markets and restaurants throughout Napa Valley and San Francisco.

The sodas are ideal for a picnic, abstainers, designated drivers, pregnant women, underage young people who are curious about wine and people that enjoy wine but cannot partake for health reasons. There is no highfructose corn syrup, caffeine or preservatives found in commercial soft drinks and soda. The sodas are presented in 12-ounce glass bottles (about a half-bottle of wine in size) with re-sealable metal twist off caps. A pleasing little pop accompanies the opening of a bottle. Each bottle is composed of 50% juice and contains 100 to 110 calories with 25 to 28 grams of sugar.

I found the sodas very refreshing when properly served chilled with flavors resembling those of wine. Currently available flavors include Rosé, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Vignette Wine Country Soda is available at select restaurants and gourmet food stores such as Bristol Farms or can be ordered online at www.hellodelicious.com and www.winecountrysoda.com.

The sodas can also be used as a mixer for cocktails such as the Pinot-rita which is composed of 1 part Vignette Wine Country Pinot Noir soda, 2 parts margarita mix, 1 part tequila combined with ice in a cocktail shaker and poured into a salt-rimmed martini glass. A very tasty margarita with a wine country taste. Unlike Pinot Noir, it is a perfect accompaniment to chips and salsa.

Vignette Wine Country Rosé Soda From Grenache, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc grape juice concentrates. Lovely pink-salmon color. Fruity aromas with bright and mildly sweet berry flavors. Delicious and my favorite.

Vignette Wine Country Chardonnay Soda From Chardonnay grape juice concentrate. Very pale yellow-gold color. Aromas of fermenting grapes and yeast. Pleasant demure flavors of slightlyoverripe grapes, pear and yellow raisins. Reminded me of Chenin Blanc in taste.

Vignette Wine Country Pinot Noir Soda From Pinot Noir grape juice concentrate. Moderately deep garnet color. Bright raspberry aromas. Tasty black cherry and black raspberry flavors similar to an intense black cherry soda.