NOVIN - Ruby - 0.3%

Photo: Oliver Schwarzwald

Proxy Time !

The Bouche company in Berlin produces Kombucha as well as so-called wine proxies. Proxies see themselves as an alternative to wines, without wanting to imitate them. The drive is to develop more complexity and to present equal alcohol-free alternatives.

Because Bouche is very familiar with kombucha, it also forms the basis for the NOVIN range. Kombucha is a fermented tea drink, generally consisting of tea sweetened with sugar (green & black) and a scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts). Briefly explained, the combination of sugar, tea and scoby starts a fermentation at the end of which the acidic kombucha is obtained. However, there are many small adjustments that can be made in this process. For Ruby, barley malt is added for the fermentation instead of sugar. In addition, aronia juice and black currant are used alongside red wine reduction.

After opening the crown cork, the aroma remains restrained. When poured, the red wine reduction, with the typical aromas of red berries, is clearly perceived. In addition, in the first impression: fruit, acidity, ferment and sweetness.The color is light red and somewhat dull. The alcohol content is indicated on the bottle with 0.3%. The drinking temperature should be between 8 °C and 11 °C degrees. Below that there is little to taste, above that the acidity was too dominant for me and lacked freshness. On the tongue then clear tannins contrasted by sweet berries. In addition, the kombucha typical acidity and a slight, interesting spiciness. NOVIN Ruby offers different layers of aromas and an accentuated acidity that confirm the approach to complexity.

This makes this drink a potential menu accompaniment. A pairing literally forces itself here. A good choice with short roasted or grilled lamb. With fish, more oily such as roasted halibut. The roasted flavors of roast combine well with the berry and cherry flavors of chokeberry. Caramelized fennel might be a good choice with both. The vegetable softens the acidity in the drink and has a balancing effect. As a "stand alone", the Ruby would be a bit too spiky in its characteristics for me. A dish or good snack is needed to bring out the full potential of this very well-made proxie. You can order NOVIN Ruby e.g here. Excellent, it´s moving on in the field of non-alcoholic!