Aussie non-alcoholic white brings the sunshine from down under
/Loxton Dealcoholized Semillon Chardonnay, $14, 90 points
You may be familiar with chardonnay, but the grape varietal sémillon does not have the same global cache as the infamous chard. The sémillon grape is native to France, and at one point in time was the most planted vine in the world. It’s a semi-sweet grape that has notes of citrus and apple or pear, sometimes some herbal notes as well. A wine made with sémillon has a slight waxiness about it, which makes it stand up well to many types of dishes. It also blends well with other white varietals, which is why it's becoming common to see in non-alcoholic white blends.
Sémillon is a major varietal in Australia, and many Aussie winemakers use it in blends including Loxton Wines which makes a luscious vegan 0.5% alcohol Semillon Chardonnay blend.
Loxton has been making dealcoholized wines for over 30 years from a selection of premium Australian grapes. They use advanced spinning cone technology to gently remove 95.5% of the alcohol, before reintroducing aroma and flavour elements to the final blend. Loxton wines are widely available in Canada, including Superstore and other easy to access grocery banners.
The Loxton dealcoholized Semillon Chardonnay was new to me, and I was quite surprised by the experience.
Aroma
On the nose, there is a nice juicy pump of pineapple and a gentle note of stone fruit. It smells kind of like Australian sunshine - minus the tanning oil of course.
Taste & Mouthfeel
This non-alcoholic white is delicious if fun and fruit is your style! It has a delightful combo of crisp and juicy and is neither overly dry or too juicy. Its profile is almost like the offspring of a big beefy chardonnay and a crisper white - it’s got elements of both styles of grape in a nicely balanced way. It’s juicy and fun upfront, with notes of pineapple and pear and a hint of tropical fruit (possibly guava), which then gives way to a hit of citrus on the finish.
It’s got a nice acidity and is not overblown or too juicy, and has a medium weight. There is a richness to it that is reminiscent of a heavier chardonnay. I was expecting a bit of waxiness from the semillon but it’s hard to detect that. The length is disappointing and I think that took away from the experience a little.
Sugar and calories
There are only 40 calories per 5 oz glass, but for anyone concerned about sugar, there is 7g per serving. This is slightly higher than some of the newer wines coming on to the market, but not astronomically high like canned mocktails or non-alcoholic wine from pre-2020. As a side note, not everyone is a fan of non-alcoholic wines with only 1g or 2g of sugar per glass, as they often lack body and complexity. So it’s really up to you what you enjoy!
What to pair with Loxton dealcoholized Semillon Chardonnay
The acidity in this wine makes it a perfect partner for roasted chicken, seafood with white sauce and any type of vegetarian dish. It’s quite refreshing so I could see it as a good accompaniment to a curry or spicier fare. I paired it for lunch with a Mediterranean salad, and it was quite the taste adventure - the garlic really brought out the pear notes.
Overall thoughts
The Loxton Semillon-Chardonnay is not overly complex and structured, but it’s quite a tasty bottle and a very enjoyable sip considering how accessible it is both in price and locations available. It’s now available at Superstores in Ontario and Western B.C. as well as BC and Manitoba liquor stores, and several online retailers. It’s heads and tails above the in-house white label grocery store brands.
If you like non-alcoholic whites, and are looking for something well-priced and accessible, this bottle is for you.
Where to buy Loxton dealcoholized wines
You can find a list of where to buy Loxton in retail stores here including Superstores near you. For online retailers, you can find Loxton at P/S Alcohol Free and UpsideDrinks.com.
Our weekly wine pick Loxton Semillon Chardonnay is now available at Ontario & Western Canada Superstores
How we score wines at Some Good Clean Fun:
95 to 100 - An excellent drink with a great personality. An example that stands out among its peers
90 to 94 - An accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.
85 to 89 - A perfectly well-made drink which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.
80 to 84 - An acceptable but simple drink, lacking distinction.
