Funky MonkeyWine ReviewFunky Monkey Blanc de Blancs

The Funky Monkey Sparkling brings what I would describe best as a basket of ripe summer fruits to your glass-backed by vibrant and strong carbonation.

In each glass of the Funky Monkey Blanc de Blancs, you’re going to find a profile that is on the sweeter side and made up of:

• Straight up round summer fruits – think cooked peach
• Subtle floral fruitiness – think ripe pear and sweet apple
• A noticeable level of sweetness;
• A mid-length body that carries the sweetness right through to the finish.

As you’ve gathered, the Funky Monkey is crafted around a fruity and sweet profile, that may not be everyone’s cup of tea (or glass of sparkling).

I did notice that carbonation when pouring a glass the carbonation was really heavy and strong. It was also interesting to see that, once left in the glass to bubble away and release some of the carbon dioxide – it really wound right down and came in at a level that helped carry the flavour and support the mouthfeel.

What I Like	Things to Consider
Weight of the body.	A higher level of sweetness may not make this a drink for everyone.
A depth of flavour that comes from different and complex fruits.	The heavy carbonation means you might need to give it a few minutes.

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Let’s get into whether or not this zero alcohol sparkling for you!

The Funky Monkey Blanc de Blancs is for anyone who is enjoys sparkling wines that ditch dry and embrace some sweetness in their life. It would also suit anyone who is looking for a sparkling wine that hints at a prosecco profile, yet stops short of being a fully-fledged version.

Overall, if you’re a fan of sweeter sparkling wine this is a vintage you are likely to enjoy. By the way if you enjoy floral and intense flavours, check out the Barton & Guest Non-Alcoholic Sparkling the floral notes crafted from muscat grapes are nothing short of amazing.

If you’re looking for sparkling with a drier profile take a look at some of the other options I’ve reviewed below:

• Vinada Sparkling Chardonnay.
• Oddbird Sparkling.
• Vinada Airen Gold.
• Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling (similar semi-sweet profile).

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You can buy Funky Monkey Blanc de Blancs from major online and in-store retailers like Brunswick Aces & Craft Zero. The wide distribution makes it easy to pick up at the last minute and cure those ‘I don’t know what to bring’ moments.

If you’re looking for a bottle or two, it will cost you around between $14 – $16/bottle.

• Brunswick Aces
• Craft Zero

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The Funky Monkey Blanc de Blancs has 31 calories with 6 grams of sugar per 100ml. This places it at the upper end of the calories and sugar per 100ml spectrum. If you have read through the taste profile you will know the profile is sweeter overall which typically lends itself to those higher numbers throughout.

If you’re keen to find low-calorie options check out the piece I put together about sugar and calories in non-alcoholic wine.

Alternatively, check out the full profile of the Blanc de Blancs below.

Avg Quantity Per Serving (125ml)		Avg Quantity Per 100ml
Energy	163 kJ 31 Cal	130 kJ 31 Cal
Protein	0.2 g	0.2 g
Fat, total	< 0.2 g	< 0.2 g
— saturated	0 g	0 g
Carbs	9.25 g	7.4 g
— sugars	7.5 g	6 g
Sodium	52.5 mg	42 mg

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When I poured this one in my glass I immediately thought about how this would fall perfectly into a jug of Christmas morning goodness, that is – an alcohol-free Pims style jug. The sweeter profile would lend itself perfectly to adding body and profile to that style of drink.

Alternatively, the Funky Monkey Blanc de Blancs would be suited to rice-based canapes or dishes. I see this landing well with a light chicken-based risotto or with those crowd favourite arancini balls.

It is 8:30 am as I’m writing this, and I’ve already made myself hungry!

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So that wraps things up for this sparkling review. Fruity and vibrant, it is definitely one for those of you who enjoy a slightly sweeter option in your glass.

For me, this lands at 6.75 / 10, I really wanted to give it a 7 however for my tastebuds the sweetness just dials it back that little bit more.

I would caution jumping into a bottle if you’re keen on those drier options, however, if you’re looking for that option to get your brunch started this will be an option you can look to explore.

With so many options out on the market at the moment hopefully, you’re able to pick up a few bottles and try them all side by side. I would love to hear your thoughts and whether you’re able to pick up that beautiful note of pear the Funky Monkey has in it.

However, if your tastebuds are tantalised at the thought of hopping in, the links are below to help you pick up a bottle or two.

• Brunswick Aces (TIPPLE12 at checkout gets you 12% off)
• Craft Zero (TZERO at checkout gets you 10% off)

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