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PizzaExpress is introducing lower calorie, lower alcohol wine
to its popular 'Leggera' (Italian for 'light') range, allowing
customers to enjoy a pizza and glass of wine for around 600 calories.
Following the success of its Leggera pizzas (each around 500
calories), PizzaExpress has developed Leggera wines, which are
lighter and less calorific**, so you can relax and enjoy a glass of
wine with your meal, even if you're counting your calories or
watching your alcohol intake.
PizzaExpress is the first restaurant on the high street to develop a
wine which is lower in both calories and alcohol while really
delivering on taste. Leggera wines contain 25% fewer calories and 25%
less sugar than an average wine from its wine list, meaning that a
175ml glass is just 87 calories. The Leggera Pinot Bianco is 9%
alcohol and the Leggera Sangiovese is 9.5% ABV. The secret behind
their reduced calories and lower alcohol content while still offering
a tasty drop lies in the early harvesting of the grapes, while sugar
levels are still low. The Leggera Sangiovese is blended with
super-ripe Sicilian Merlot to fill out the fruit profile.
Nutritionist Juliette Kellow comments, "Weight conscious diners
who want to control portions and cut calories welcome more choice on
the high street. Lower calorie, lower alcohol wine in restaurants
allows them to go out for dinner and enjoy a tasty meal and glass of
wine without sacrifice."
Master of Wine Adrian Garforth has been working with PizzaExpress for
six years to develop the best wine selection on the high street,
introducing new grapes, wine styles and regions to its customers.
Predominantly an Italian selection, wines are listed according to
style and each with its own tasting note to help guide customers in
their choice.
Adrian Garforth, Master of Wine, comments, "Lower calorie, lower
alcohol wines have been an increasingly important discussion point
for both the trade and the consumer over the last few months and it's
great to see PizzaExpress take this on board. We've worked with their
growers to deliver a really great tasting wine and developed a
winning concept."
A glass of Leggera wine is the perfect complement to a Leggera pizza,
and, because together they add up to around 600 calories, you can
indulge yourself without having to feel guilty.
The wines are available in 370 PizzaExpress restaurants; the bottle
price is £16.55 and both wines are also available by the glass
(175ml & 250ml).
*This figure is a guideline approximation - as all of our pizzas are
made by hand by our pizzaiolos, there is always room for a little
variation. The Leggera pizzas contain 30% less calories than the
average of our standard pizzas, without compromise to taste
**Leggera wines contain 25% fewer calories and 25% less sugar than an
average wine from PizzaExpress' wine list
Leggera pizzas are made from the classic PizzaExpress dough and
signature tomato sauce, topped with Fior di Latte mozzarella and
fresh ingredients. Inspired by a classic fresella from Naples - an
Italian bread with a hole at its middle - dough is removed from the
centre of the pizza and replaced with a delicious, fresh salad. Each
Leggera pizza is around 500 calories and contains less than 5g
saturated fat.
There are four pizzas in the Leggera range -
- Contadina - torn chicken breast with spinach, fresh red peppers
and creamy fior di latte mozzarella, finished with a splash of Tabasco.
- The Margherita Leggera is topped with fior di latte mozzarella,
marinated santos tomatoes and fresh basil.
- The Gustosa, which is Italian for tasty, brings together hand
torn prosciutto cotto ham with slices of Portobello mushroom, sweet
yellow pepper, fior di latte mozzarella and fresh thyme to give it a
bit of a kick. A meaty pizza that's still light.
- A vegetarian feast, the Vitabella, meaning 'good life' in
Italian, is topped with asparagus spears, mixed chargrilled
vegetables and red and yellow peppers on a base of tomato source and
fior di latte mozzarella. It's super healthy and counts as one of
your five a day. |
