One of the biggest wine trends we’ve seen in the past year is the rise of health- or calorie-conscious wines. The newest is Social Sparkling Wine, which will soon be available in 200 restaurants nationwide after nailing a $300,000 deal on Billion Dollar Buyer. Each slim can clocks in at only 88 calories each, and delivers a “clean” buzz that leaves drinkers feeling energized.
Social Sparkling Wine was started by Leah Calpanis, who overcame thyroid cancer by making her diet entirely clean. Calpanis went vegan, eliminated alcohol, and also utilized herbal remedies to heal holistically. After her recovery, she was inspired to create a product that would let people enjoy alcohol, guilt-free.
Social Sparkling Wine is certified organic, and sets you back only 1 gram of sugar, and 4 carbs per can. It is also sulfite-free, to help avoid hangovers. An early test on Billion Dollar Buyer confirmed this merit, with drinkers reporting feeling energized and fresh the next day, even after drinking multiple cans of Social Sparkling Wine.
So what’s the catch? Social Sparkling Wine is not actually a wine, it’s a sparkling sake wine. That’s right. The core ingredients are reverse osmosis water and organic sake. No grapes or wine anywhere.
As a whole, the beverage is closer to an alcoholic cooler or spritzer than wine. This is also evident in the four available flavors — Hibiscus Cucumber, Elderflower Apple, Pink Grapefruit Ginger, and Toasted Coconut Almond — and their colors. Early tests on Billion Dollar Buyer reveal that Hibiscus Cucumber was the most popular flavor.
Cans are $11 for a pack of four. While at the moment Social Sparkling Wine is primarily sold online, it will eventually be available in over 200 restaurants within the Landry’s Restaurant Group nationwide. The Landry’s Restaurant Group includes Morton’s Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Landry’s Seafood, and many others. To learn more, visit SocialSparklingWine.com.
Photo courtesy of Social Sparkling Wine.