It’s after 5pm on Friday here in Oz as I sit down to write this post. I have a gazillion (at least) half-written blog posts for Diet Schmiet, but I decided to pull a draft out of my Debbish folder instead. After all, I want to talk about something which contributes to my healthy lifestyle: champagne. (Okay, well… if we’re being politically correct, I mean sparkling wine… but it just doesn’t have the same decadent connotations does it?)

Regular readers of this blog and / or Debbish, or anyone who has – in fact – had anything to do with me, will know I am fond of my champagne (note I am defaulting to the politically incorrect name… WOTEVA!)

In fact, you’ve probably seen several tweets a week in which I mention retiring to the bath with a book and some champers after work, or impatiently waiting for 5pm on a weekend. So  you possibly have visions of me sitting around scoffing Moet & Chandon or Bollinger or Veuve Cliquot or the like.

Well, I hate to disappoint you but like most of the world, I very rarely drink anything that indulgent. Rather, unless it’s some amazingly special occasion, my fave champagne is a Tasmanian drop called Jansz. But, most of the time I talk or tweet about drinking champagne I’m drinking something FAR healthier. Well, sort of.

Yellowglen is an Aussie winery which has been around since 1971, unpopping its first bubbly in 1975.

Over the past 40 years the winery has produced an ever-changing variety of bubbles. Nowadays it caters for a range of tastes and budgets: from the cheap and cheerful ‘Yellow’ or ‘Pink’ which is available for about $10 a bottle; to the Pinot Noir Chardonnay and Cremant etc for  about $15, and its Perle range for $20+.

But, five years ago they were one of the first Aussie wineries to cater for (ahem) weight-challenged or health-conscious Aussies who still love their tipple. Yellowglen Jewel, is available in Pink or Yellow for the same price as the originals BUT comes with 30% less calories and 40% less alcohol.

And… that’s actually what I buy and drink unless I’m with others or have a reason to buy something pricier. Sure, it’s not Moet or even its stablemate and one of my other ‘regulars’ (the YG Pinot Noir Chardonnay) but if I get carried away and drink an entire bottle, I’ve really only had the equivalent of 3.6 drinks, rather than almost double that.

On top of that – and this is where it gets embarrassing… yes, I am a heathen – I tend to dilute champers with soda water (not – obviously if I was drinking Moet etc, but almost anything else – yes!).

It means that I can sip on my champers for AGES – which is how I make it through half a book or more while quaffing in the bath. (Without drowning or stumbling over the side of the bath when I finish.) Plus the soda on top of the bubbly champagne means I’m pretty full and drink / eat less than I might usually. It is – quite frankly – the perfect drink for a weight-challenged gal like myself… and even more so as we head into summer!

Are you a fan of the bubbly? 

This is not a sponsored post. There has been no compensation or other incentive offered to write a favorable review or any freebies provided. All opinions expressed in this space are mine, written with the objective of giving readers my personal opinion on the (ahem) oft-used product. Although if Yellowglen would like to give me some free bottles of champagne I would happily accept with nary a qualm!