Tasting Profile
Nose. The profile is described as fragrant. Empress's tasting notes cite aromatic rose and herbaceous botanicals.[1]
Palate. The flavor profile is described as dry, fragrant, fruity and Nordic. Empress's tasting notes say the palate culminates in a smooth, dry finish.[1],[2]
Structure. Structural points supported by the tasting descriptions:[1]
- Sweetness: dry
- Length: smooth, dry finish
Pairings
Composition & Vinification
Empress's website declares the ingredient list as: Kombucha (water, culture, sugar, black & green tea), plum, apple, kombucha vinegar, juniper berry, rose petals, hibiscus, pine spruce, angelica root, rose pepper, rosehip, and organic sea salt (gathered).[2]
Other sources give different accounts. The Oda listing gives kombucha (water, culture, sugar, black tea, green tea), plum, apple, juniper berries, rose petals, hibiscus, spruce shoots, damiana, angelica root, rose pepper, rose hips, and sea salt. That list includes damiana and does not include kombucha vinegar. A photographed Venus Rose label lists rose petals, juniper berries, spruce shoots, apple, plum, damiana, and kombucha.[3],[4]
Kombucha -- Base. All three sources list kombucha. Empress's website and the Oda listing both give it as water, culture, sugar, and black and green tea.[2]
Apple -- Crisp Fruit. Apple appears in all three ingredient accounts. Empress's tasting notes describe it as crisp apple.[2]
Plum -- Juicy Fruit. Plum appears in all three ingredient accounts. Empress's tasting notes describe it as juicy plum.[2]
Rose Petals -- Aromatic Floral. Rose petals appear in all three ingredient accounts. Empress's tasting notes describe the rose as aromatic.[2]
Juniper Berry -- Nordic Aromatic. Juniper berry appears in all three ingredient accounts. Juniper is described as giving the drink a distinctive Nordic aromatic edge alongside wild spruce.[1]
Spruce -- Nordic Aromatic. Empress's website lists pine spruce. The Oda listing and the photographed label list spruce shoots. Empress's tasting notes say spruce tips add wildness.[2]
Rosehip -- Wildness. Rosehip appears on Empress's website list, and rose hips appear in the Oda listing. Empress's tasting notes say rose hip adds wildness.[2]
Hibiscus. Hibiscus appears on both Empress's website list and the Oda listing.[2]
Angelica Root. Angelica root appears on both Empress's website list and the Oda listing.[2]
Rose Pepper. Rose pepper appears on both Empress's website list and the Oda listing.[2]
Damiana. Damiana appears in the Oda listing and on the photographed label.[4]
Sea Salt. Empress's website lists organic sea salt, described as gathered. The Oda listing gives sea salt.[2]
Provenance & Sourcing
Specifications. Venus Rose is produced by Empress and categorized as a Nordic Botanical Rosé Wine Alternative. Its declared nutrition per 100 ml is listed below.[1]
- Category: Nordic Botanical Rosé Wine Alternative
- ABV: less than 0.5%
- Energy: 17 kcal per 100 ml
- Fat: 0.2 g (of which saturated 0.12 g)
- Carbohydrates: 3.1 g (of which sugars 3.1 g)
- Protein: <0.1 g
- Salt: 0.01 g
Production Philosophy
Venus Rose is a kombucha-based sparkling tea from Empress, built to stand in for rosé wine without grapes or dealcoholization. Empress lists Venus Rose among its Winealts. The company describes that category as kombucha-based beverages crafted with fermented fruits, herbs and botanicals to resemble the taste, aroma and mouthfeel of sparkling wine, rather than de-alcoholized wines or grape-based drinks.
Empress frames the drink around Nordic terroir. It describes Venus Rose as a non-alcoholic alternative to rosé that combines apples, plums, roses and what it calls Venusian botanicals. On its SIAL Paris 2026 product page, Empress describes it as a botanical alternative to rosé that combines fermentation with fruit, flowers and Nordic botanicals. The Oda listing describes it as a sparkling tea designed to recreate the experience of traditional sparkling rosé wine.[1],[2],[3]