Review: 2018 Luminara Alcohol-Removed Chardonnay

This content is sponsored by Better Rhodes Canada

The Luminara brand has been much lauded in online conversations and product reviews, so the news their non alcoholic Chardonnay has finally landed in Canada through Better Rhodes Canada was exciting.

Luminara alcohol-removed wine is made in the Napa Valley appellation, with 100% of its grapes grown in the region. The provenance of non alcoholic wine is an important fact, as prior to the surge in popularity and innovation of non alcoholic wine, most products lacked geographical claims or even varietal information. As the industry becomes more sophisticated, terroir and vintage are things consumers should be looking for in premium non alcoholic wine.

This Chardonnay is from the 2018 vintage, which was an unparalleled growing season in Napa. Cooler spring weather, consistently warm weather throughout the summer with very few spikes of extreme heat and a very late harvest helped contribute to a yield of grapes with complex flavours and aromas.

As non alcoholic wine gets better and better, winemakers are perfecting the experience for non drinkers and it really starts with opening the bottle. The aroma of the 2018 Luminara Chardonnay will definitely bring back memories. The nose is almost identical to a full-bodied alcoholic Chardonnay. You’ll find notes of buttery stone fruit with just a tiny hint of oak which is heavenly for former Chardonnay lovers.

Luminara uses spinning cone technology to remove the alcohol from fully fermented wine, an innovation also used by award-winning nonalcoholic wines from Australia. The care and perfection that went into this product is evident on the palette, as you’ll find absolutely no chemical aftertaste.

The perfect 2018 vintage shines through in this very ripe white. There are strong notes of pineapple, tropical fruit and a hint of oak which is common for some Napa vintages. There is a bit of a conflict on the palette, as the tropical fruit is slightly overblown and buries the complexity of the other flavours. As with most non alcoholic white wines, there is very little length on the palette, but it’s still an enjoyable and juicy wine.

This wine will pair best with salty and spicy Asian foods or Caribbean dishes. The pineapple notes and fruitiness will be a refreshing accompaniment to dishes like peanut satays, Szechuan noodles or savoury bbq chicken. In fact, even a simple Hawaiian pizza will be delightful to nosh on with this bottle. Keep the wine chilled in an ice bucket while dining, to ensure the wine doesn’t become too flabby while you’re enjoying your meal!

The 2018 Luminara Alcohol-Removed Chardonnay is available through Better Rhodes Canada for $25.99. They are currently offering free shipping on orders over $100 to Ontario and Quebec, so stock up on a few bottles of this wine for the summer!

Cheers!