Kombucha Imitating Wine

Some of our classmates seemed shocked when Michael Preis mentioned alcoholic kombucha, but I've been on the boozy booch train for a while (detox while you retox, am I right?). I believe their is no better mixer and a kombucha cocktail is often my drink of choice.

However, I was surprised to see that one of the flavors in GT's new alcoholic kombucha line is unapologetically imitating wine (if you can even call 3% ABV alcoholic...). Here is the description of their New World Noir™ flavor:

Inspired by the sophisticated profile of a fine wine, GT’s CLASSIC GOLD New World Noir Kombucha is what sommelier dreams are made of. Elegant like a Pinot with 3% ABV and billions of living probiotics, this sparkling, chilled red pairs our organic & raw Kombucha with a woody oak blend, rich Aronia juice, sweet Blueberry juice, and a hint of Vanilla extract. Cheers to good health!

Something I found particularly interesting is the fact that it doesn't even have grape juice! Instead, its deep wine color comes from blueberries. The ingredients are as follows:

GT’s Kombucha* (Kombucha Culture*, Black Tea*, Green Tea*, Cane Sugar*), Oak Blend*, Blueberry Juice, Aronia Juice*, Vanilla Extract*, and 100% Pure Love!!! 

I've, unsurprisingly, tried it (along with their other 2 alcoholic flavors). While it tasted slightly reminiscent of wine, I think the color and the name reminded me more of wine than the flavor itself. It almost had a mulled-wine-like spiciness to it. It was my least favorite of their 3 flavors.

Still, it got me thinking about some of our speakers' comments about millennials' moves toward healthier beverages (often away from booze) and whether drinks like this one will take share away from wine.