I first came across this drink at a recent Tesco press tasting. Usually, I’m guilty of ignoring anything that doesn’t fall neatly into my admittedly narrow definition of wine. But I was glad I made an exception here. Among the Spritzi flavours on offer at the tasting, Elderflower, Blood Orange and Yuzu & Pink Pepper, it was the latter, a new flavour, that stood out for me. Curious and impressed, I made a mental note to revisit it properly.
Since then, a bottle had been quietly languishing in the fridge, waiting for its moment. That moment came with the recent stretch of hot weather, when I wanted something refreshing, not too strong (8.4% ABV) and definitely very cold.
Spritzi Yuzu & Pink Pepper is a play on the classic spritz, drawing from Italian aperitivo culture. Traditionally, a spritz, originating in Padua, Italy in 1919, is made with Aperol, Prosecco and soda water, known for its bittersweet and lightly sparkling character. This drink definately isn’t Italian, though. It’s made in Germany by Peter Mertes KG, particularly well known for its Riesling wines and is an aromatised wine-based beverage, meaning it’s primarily white wine (72%), carbonated water and added flavourings.
Tesco describes it as citrusy with a delicate pink pepper spice and suggests it as an alternative to a G&T. It pours a lovely rosé colour and has a soft fizz, something like a frizzante wine. It’s sweet, but not in a cloying way, with a balancing bitterness that adds complexity. From the first sip, especially served ice cold, it’s incredibly refreshing, almost sorbet-like.
The flavour profile is intriguing. There’s obvious citrus yuzu being a tart, aromatic Japanese fruit but also tropical notes like passionfruit, mango and lychee. There’s a distinct echo of vermouth or Cinzano in the background, with subtle botanicals and a touch of bitterness. It doesn’t taste like wine but that’s part of its charm. It plays with contrast in a similar way, to sweet and sour sauce, the interplay between sweetness and bitterness makes it both accessible and grown-up.
It works on its own, but also stands up surprisingly well with food. In the heat, when you want something cool, crisp and not overly alcoholic, it fits the bill perfectly. And at only £5 from Tesco, £4.50 when I picked it up on promotion, it’s a great-value summer option. I’ll definitely be heading back to buy more.
