Acid League Velvet is an alcohol-free red wine proxy made by a vinegar company whose goal is to inspire discovery through acidity. Acid League Velvet is one of their many “layered blends of juices, teas, spices, bitters, and more with all the complexity of great wine, and none of the alcohol”.

I reviewed their Bee Complex, and while I wanted to love it, it was just a bit too vinegary for me. On a whim, I went ahead and ordered a 4-pack of their Velvet red blend on holiday sale at $21.50/bottle (they don’t sell individuals, but I was dying to try it and willing to take the risk in hopes that I’d find a great red wine alternative). I was optimistic because unlike the Bee Complex, the first ingredient was not vinegar, it was cabernet sauvignon juice.

First of all, I have to tip my hat to Acid League for such a superbly complex and thoughtfully crafted beverage. Velvet is rich and layered and sophisticated. You notice the hints of cacao nibs, coffee and black tea layered in with the cabernet sauvignon grapes. The cherry and blueberry are incredibly subtle. The vinegar was still just a little too much for me. While it was far less potent than in the Bee Complex, it was the first thing I smelled and the dominant taste I picked up.

My assessment is that this is a “unique to me” thing. I can drink a shrub or kombucha, but they aren’t something I crave and I often don’t finish them. If given the choice between oil or vinegar on my salad, I’d pick oil with salt and pepper any day of the week. Vinegar just isn’t my jam, and I typically avoid food containing it. I’m hoping that my taste buds reorient themselves to it over time, as I really do want to love this drink. I will say that when I drank it with a steak at dinner, the vinegar was less notable and the coffee and chicory stole the show. I still plan on cracking open a second bottle and giving it another go, and will try decanting that one to see if it helps round it out for me.

So in short, if you are someone who loved red wines and also like the aforementioned variety of vinegar-oriented foods & beverages, you will probably love this and I hope you do!

Acid League provides very helpful descriptions of their products. This one is described as the following:

Fruit: Cherry, Blueberry, Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes
Acidity: Wolfberry Vinegar
Spice: Single-Origin Colombian Coffee, Cacao Nibs, Dandelion, Chicory
Body: Cascara, Chinese Black Tea
Pair With: Mole Poblano, Texas Barbecue, Beets, Chili