Blossom Hill Vie reviewer feedback thread - £100 voucher prize draw for feedback NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This thread is for the 100 Mumsnetters who have been trying the reduced alcohol wine based drink from Blossom Hill – Vie 5.5%.

Here's what Blossom Hill Vie say, “The start of the new year is all about lighter choices – so it’s the perfect time to try Blossom Hill Vie 5.5%vol. Vie is a reduced alcohol wine based drink that has an elegant, light and fruity taste. It is the perfect choice for those occasions when you'd like a drink without the higher alcohol content – like lunch or early evening.

Vie has all the taste you'd expect from Blossom Hill – the nation's favourite wine*– but with only 5.5%vol and 30% less calories than Blossom Hill still wine. Vie is available in White - with hints of citrus, pear and apricot flavours and Rosé - with a floral aroma, ripe peach and strawberry flavours. Both are v. elegant, v. delicate and v. tasty choices – Vie 5.5%.

If you prefer sweeter style drinks, then Vie is perfect for you. We think it’s v. tasty, but would love to hear what you think! For more information about Vie and to explore more of the Blossom Hill range click here"

Thank you to all the testers who are taking part. Below are a few questions for you to answer but please feel free to add any other comments you have too.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?
2. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?
3. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?
4. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?
5. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

Everyone who adds their feedback to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to be in with the chance of winning a £100 Debenhams Gift Card.

For those of you who didn't get to try Blossom Hill Vie 5.5% (or want to try again!) Click here to redeem your exclusive 50p off coupon.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

*Nielsen GB Total Trade (On's to 05 10 13, Off's to 12.10.13)
The BLOSSOM HILL words and associated logos are trade marks. Copyright BLOSSOM HILL Winery 2013.
Your comments may be used by Blossom Hill in marketing materials, anonymously of course.

1.I tried the Rose and thought it was light and refreshing, didn't realise it was suppose to be sparkling though , mine was flat ,didn't think to check the use by date, (wine doesn't normally last long enough in my house to expire). Had just done a week of nights so thoroughly enjoyed relaxing with it.

1. Light and fruity , doesnt leave a bitter after taste.
2. Yes lower alcohol = fewer calories , although you do need to drink more to get merry.
3. I would recommend it to my friends, and to my mums WW friends.

5.I would buy it again, hopefully it might have a bit of fizz in it next time. I am a great lover of lambrini though,so perhaps if it were a little bit cheaper it may win me over( and Im also a tight arse).

I'm not a tester but I am surprised at some people talking about drinking it instead of soft drinks - at 5.5% it is more alcoholic than Stella (5.2%).

Bit annoyed that I had to pay £5.50 for it from asda when I can see rrp is £4.99. Also have no idea if mine was out of date or not. It definitely wasn't sparkling! I assume its safe to drink even out of date?

i tried the white

it fizzes ever so slightly as you open the bottle but doesnt taste fizzy. it smells lovely, v flowery and fragrant.

it tastes very very light. i am used to oakier 'heavier' wines and this is more like a non fizz spritzer. i didnt enjoy it as an evening wind down drink but it was perfect as an afternoon drink with food and friends

i would recommend it for picnics or afternoon drinking when you need to drive or dont want a headache

i knew it had less calories and as i am dieting that was a bonus

the price is fine

thanks

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

• Rose. We really enjoyed it, it was very similar to the wine we would normally choose, but even easier to drink. Delicious!

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

• Sweet, fruity and very lightly sparkling. Just sparkling enough not to be fizzy.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

Not until this test, no.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

I already have.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

I will definitely buy it again. We love sweet Rose wines, but are trying to cut down on calories, so this is perfect.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the white over dinner with a friend and we both found the look of the bottle to be appealing and also the smell was lovely

2. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

It tastes smooth and fruity and was very easy to drink

3. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

yes from reading the info sheet given with the bottle, calories wouldn't usually come into it for me when choosing an alcoholic drink

4. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

i would recomend this drink to anyone as it was very nice

5. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

it is a reasonable priced bottle and i would be likely to buy again

Thanks for the opportunity to test

I had a year out of date bottle too and have emailed MNHQ, waiting with baited breath for my replacement bottle.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

Rosé, liked it, was a bit fizzy, slightly odd smell, almost vinegary when first opened, had some the day after which tasted better that when it was first opened!

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Light and fruity

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

No didn't know that

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

Maybe though could get similar ordinary wine for that, would expect it to be a bit less.

1. I tried the Rose. Yum yum yum

1. I would describe it as light, fruity and refreshing. Really enjoyed it as did my husband. Would be particularly great in the summer!

1. No I did not know it had 30% less calories. Makes me even happier!!

1. Yes I would certainly recommend this to friends and family.

1. Yes £4.99 is reasonable for this bottle,even though the % is quite a lot lower than a normal wine. I would pay it again. I actually looked for it tonight in my local tesco express but it did not stock it.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the Rose - it was light and (a bit too) easy to drink!

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

It was fruity and light and would be perfect for a bbq in the sun

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

Not until I did this product test. I have to say that calories don't really come into it when I am choosing wine - so this wouldn't be a selling point for me.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

If someone was doing a calorie controlled diet I might recommend it

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

I probably wouldn't buy it again - it is not my favourite wine - and I can get an NZ sauvignon for around the same price!

I tried the rose - it was delicious. I loved it!

It tasted sweet, light and fruity.

I would definitely recommend it to friends and have ready done so.
It's great for a lunchtime drink or a nice glass with dinner. It still went to my head because I am a lightweight but less than normal!

I didn't know it had fewer calories so yes that's a great selling point for me even tho I am not a calorie counter.

At 4.99 it's cheaper than my usual tipple and I will definitely be buying it again as it was delicious

My bottle was out of date but I didn't notice and I'm sure the in date wine would be even nicer!

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the white. It had a very light feel to it and for me was of a very lemon flavour. That in itself was slightly disappointing with the description given having pear and other flavours however this is possibly down to my palate rather than the wine as dh got a much less citrusy flavour than I. I particularly enjoyed the slight fizz to the wine and it went well with our chicken meal that evening.

I think this would be perfect for summer bbqs and picnics where it's nice to have a drink with friends but you don't often want the heaviness of some regular wines.

It was definitely low in alcohol as my first mouthful was quite watery. It took another to bring the flavour through. And there was no alcohol after taste which I find can ruin a wine for me.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Vie is a very light, sweet and lemon flavour with a bit of sparkle.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

I knew it was lower calorie and this certainly appeals while dieting.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not? I would recommend the wine to my slimming group as it would certainly appeal to them to have a lighter tipple. My friends are more wine drinkers for enjoying wine and I think this would be too light for them.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

The price is reasonable for the bottle of wine. I'd definitely consider buying it again.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?
White. I tried this bottle with my husband, we both liked the wine through my husband felt it was a bit watery.

2. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?
Light, delicate flowerly.

3. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?
Yes, you told us on the bottle. Good when watching our weight.

4. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, for a summer bbq, especially for a day event, when a glass of wine would be lovely but watching children play and the early hour would make this a nice alternative to a soft drink.

5. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, for summer day time entertaining. But somehow I expected a lower price tag with the lower alcohol content.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the Rose.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Light, fruity, not too strong.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

Yes, which is an added bonus.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, it is a good option if you are looking for something lighter/not as strong tasting than most wines.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I thing I would buy it occasionally, price is good. I would be more likely to buy it if it was more sparkling, mine was quite flat.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the rosé, I really liked it, it was very light and refreshing

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Light and fruity

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

Yes, it said so on the bottle and in the letter

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I would, it was really easy to drink and I liked that it was lower in calories. I shared the bottle with my SIL and she said she would recommend it as well

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I would, it was very nice to drink and I liked the lower alcohol content, usually after sharing a bottle of wine I feel really full but after this one I didn't which was a good thing!

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the white, it was okay, it tasted like watered down wine. If it was meant to be sparkling, I didn't get any of that through.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

I was a nice fruity taste, without any tartness. Bit watery if you like it to have a stronger taste, but I usually drink spritzers so it didn't bother me. Would have been lovely if it had been sparkling.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

That's what the literature said. It's 2/3rd less alcohol, but only 1/3rd less calories, what's going on there?

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

Probably to my friends who don't like to get drunk when enjoying wine. I'd like to try the rose version myself to see if it is nice too.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

Perhaps. It's a lower alcohol version but not really a lower price. It might be nice if that was reflected in the price.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the white wine and I really liked it . Was a very nice refreshing drink and you wouldn't really know that it was a lighter alternative.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Light, fruity ,refreshing

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than

Blossom Hill still wine?

I did know , it's great for people who are trying to lose weight.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would recommend Blossom Hill Vie as it had a lovely pleasant fruity taste , is light and refreshing and also with it being lower calories than normal wine , it would be a big plus point to my friends.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes , I'd buy it . I don't think that's a bad price for a weekend treat.

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

Rose, its the only wine I drink and I'm quite fussy even with that. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It wasn't obvious from the taste that it was a low acohol wine.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Fruity, light and refreshing are the three things that initially come to mind. The aftertaste wasn't overwhelming like some other wines. The taste is quite delicate, not too bitter.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

I didn't know, I think this is a plus. So many people are counting the calories!

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would reccomend this to friends that enjoy wine but maybe not the effects or the hangover. Lots of my friends have young chidren so would be reluctant to have a glass of wine or 2 with dinner, this would be perfect for them. All the taste, fewer calories and not as strong as regular wine.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

I think £4.99 is a fair price, about the price I usually pay so I will buy this wine in the future. If it was in on the 3 for £10 deal that would be even better :)

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I got given the White variant. I liked it. I usually like really sweet wines, this wasn't as sweet but was very nice.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Fruity, nice as it was sparkling.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

I had read this on the sign up info.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would and have recommended it to them.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

I think £4.99 for a bottle of wine is a good price, I'm not a big wine drinker- I prefer cider- but will buy this and the rose bottle with my next shop.

Thank you for choosing me to test it :)

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

I tried the white. It was nice, but definitely tasted low alcohol to me. Kind of like a faintly alcoholic Schloer rather than a lower alcoholic wine, IYSWIM. Tasted like a posh juice. I felt as though I needed a large glass to get the desired effect lush

Bear in mind that a dry January may have altered my taste buds a little.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Fresh, and 'juicy' (as in juice-like). A little sweet, perhaps.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

Possibly, did you not tell us that in the blurb? It rings a bell.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would possibly recommend it to them as a day time wine. I tend not to drink alcohol during the day, but would possibly have a glass of Vie at a lunchtime or daytime BBQ as it didn't have the same effect on me as standard wine.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

If I was looking for a low alcohol wine for a lunchtime meet up, then I would possibly buy Vie. £4.99 is certainly in the right price bracket for the wine we drink, although we tend to buy whatever is on offer at the time - so will usually get a £9.99 bottle for £4.99 or similar.
But to be honest, lunchtime drinking is few and far between in this house, so I probably won't buy Vie again.

I can see its appeal to those who count calories though.

Yes, I think fan hit the nail on the head. It did taste faintly watered down!

Yes, good point by heart. I would buy again if I was BFIng.

Oh, just read the rest of the thread and checked the best-before-date: Feb 2013.

How do I get in touch with MichelleMumsnet?

1. Which Vie variant did you try – white or rosé? What did you think?

White - Pleasantly surprised, with the lower alcohol content still a lovely taste, perfect for lunchtime or a lazy summer afternooon.

1. How would you describe the taste of Vie to your friends?

Fruity, I would say a taste of Summer, like sweet berries.

1. Did you know that Blossom Hill Vie has 30% fewer calories than Blossom Hill still wine?

I did know this and it makes Blossom Hill Vie more attractive to me.

1. Would you recommend it to them? If so, why? If not, why not?

Absolutely - A refreshing drink without the calorie content of a normal glass of white wine.

1. The RRP for Blossom Hill Vie is £4.99 per bottle. Do you think you'd be likely to buy it again? If so, why? If not, why not?

I will buy Blossom Hill Vie again. The price is a bargain for what you get, almost to cheap to believe it is any good, but it is so grab your bottle now it is worth it!