After getting through my third bottle, I feel like I can write a proper Plus and Minus Shiraz review for you! Check out what this young and fresh non-alcoholic Shirazhas to offer.
Plus and Minus Shiraz is young, earthy and oaky while being mildly sweet with, dark fruits and sour plum noted non-alcoholic wine. Built around a traditional Shiraz flavour profile, the Plus and Minus Shiraz is finished with a warm, oaked and mouth-drying tannin finish.
|
What I Like |
What Could be better |
|
Earthy nose and oaky depth. |
Light and short body fades quickly. |
|
Dark fruits present well. |
Some noticeable sweetness. |
| Tannins are a nice touch. |
Young tasting wine. |
Key Takeaways
| ABV: | <0.5% |
| Style | Shiraz |
| Calories: | 28 calories / 100ml |
| Colour: | Deep Purple |
| Main Notes: | Dark Fruits. Oak. |
| Cost: | $14 – $17 |
| Rating: | 6.5/10 |
Plus and Minus Shiraz Taste
As a general rule, raspberry, sour plum and cherry along with spices from clove and depth from oak will be in each glass of Plus and Minus Shiraz. It has a short and light body while with a dry yet oak finish.
Each glass will contain a mid-level of sweetness; however the earthy notes and oak help dial this back and reduce the overall level of sweetness in the glass. It is something worth keeping in mind though.
So far as comparing it to other alcohol free red wines, the Plus and Minus sits in the middle of the range for me, while sweeter than my tastebuds are used to, it will satisfy people who don’t mind a hint of sweetness.
Looking at other options, the Plus and Minus is compared to a couple of popular options below.
- Funky Monkey (7/10): Compared to the Funky Monkey, the Plus and Minus Shiraz has a deeper flavour profile and higher level of sweetness.
- Newblood Shiraz (2.5/10): Pitched against the Newblood Shiraz, the Plus and Minus is way less sweetness and carries, in comparison, real wine flavours that the Newblood lacks.
So who is the Plus and Minus Shiraz for? Find out below.
Where to Buy Plus and Minus Shiraz
Plus and Minus is going to cost you between $10 – $17 and it is easily available through retailers like Brunswick Aces, Craft Zero and Liquorland.
The range has great distribution as it is part of the Fourth Wave Wine group who have been championing the non-alcoholic space with their other brands like Funky Monkey (more on them here).
Like I said above, this is one to add to the ‘one to try list’ given it does have some solid aspects of it. Check out the links below to get yourself a bottle:
If you do pick up a bottle, head over to @tipplezerodrinks on Instagram and let me know what you think! I’d love to see this one out in the wild.
Plus and Minus Shiraz Nutrition Information
The Plus and Minus Shiraz 28 calories, 2.6 grams of sugar and 0.1 grams of fat per 100ml.
As a whole, the sugar content of 2.6 grams per 100ml does come in below the 4 grams per 100ml average my research turned up when comparing a basket of over 20 of the best selling non-alcoholic wines (check out the full post here).
The full breakdown of the Plus and Minus Shiraz Nutrition is below.
| Avg Quantity Per Serving (125ml) |
Avg Quantity Per 100ml |
|
| Energy | 148 kJ 35 Cal |
119 kJ 28 Cal |
| Protein | 0.37 g | 0.4 g |
| Fat, total | 0.1 g | 0.1 g |
| — saturated | 0 g | 0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 5.5 g | 4.4 g |
| — sugars | 3.25 g | 2.6 g |
| Sodium | 38.7 mg | 31 mg |
Who Would Enjoy Plus and Minus Shiraz?
As a whole, this non-alcoholic shiraz presents with more of a traditional pinot profile with the addition of spice and oak. With its lighter body and if you’re a Pinot drinker you should include this on your ‘one to try list’, all while keeping in mind there is going to be some sweetness in each glass.
The piece that has me likely to buy another bottle to simply ‘drink’ for drinking its sake, would be that level of oak and light mouth-drying tannin based finish which helps draw back some of the sweetness.
If you are looking for other alternatives, I would recommend trying your hand at the Funky Monkey Pinot which is far less sweet and also carries through a traditional Pinot Noir flavour profile. Shiraz options are a little short at the moment!
If you’re a pinot drinker – definitely head over here and check out my full Funky Monkey Pinot write up!
When to Drink Plus and Minus Shiraz?
The Plus and Minus Shiraz is for lighter foods and will go well with chicken and vegetable dishes or fresh salads and those endless Sunday afternoon snacks. Personally, I’d have no hesitation pairing this one with a stew or while settling in for a lazy Sunday on the couch (or in front of my laptop writing like right now!)
The Round Up: What Are People Saying
Plus and Minus have become part of the fabric of Australian Non-Alcoholic Wine. They have built a range around the benefits of antioxidants and added grape skin extract while doing away with the alcohol.
The feedback I’ve come across on the Plus and Minus Shiraz is that it:
- is too sweet and doesn’t carry enough depth for a shiraz;
- has a great aroma profile, oak notes and a solid tannin based finish that grows on you through the bottle;
- is suited to pallets who don’t mind sweeter wines or those of white wine drinkers.
Rounding this one out, the last piece of feedback I got on this being one tilted towards ‘a white wine drinker’s pallet’ is exactly right.
While seasoned red wine drinkers may find this a little sweet or lacking depth, it will suit white drinkers well. For me, this lands a 6.5/10.
Interested in giving a go? clicking here to be reminded of where to buy, alternatively check out the other non-alc wine options here!
