Proxies, a line up of wine-style drinks from Acid League, were some of the first to the 'wine proxy' scene.
What's a wine proxy? It's not de-alcoholised wine - it's a blend of different ingredients built to mimic different flavour profiles we might enjoy while drinking wine, or the experience of picking out different aromatic notes.
'Red Ember' includes red wine grape skins, berry concentrates and vinegars, a blend of black and herbal tea, and extracts of coffee and oak to build a smooth fruity and slightly tannic beverage akin to a full-bodied red wine, but entirely non-alcoholic. Intended to be savoured, and built to be food-friendly, it is a noble effort to achieve the elusive "big red".
It is certainly juicy and complex but it does have some sweetness - we enjoy it with a slight chill as an aperitif or after dinner drink.
