St. Regis Selection Pinot Noir: New Non-Alcoholic Red For The Holidays
/Just in time to ring in some holiday cheer, St. Regis Selection Pinot Noir is the new premium red for this long-standing non-alcoholic wine brand
St. Regis has been making dealcoholized wines for decades, and they’ve been a long-standing brand in the non-alcoholic drinks aisle at grocery stores across Canada. They’ve recently expanded their line to meet the demand for non-alcoholic wine with two new premium options: a fruity Pinot Noir and a bright Sauvignon Blanc. It’s perfect timing to talk about the Pinot Noir as we head into the entertaining and holiday season and need to provide inclusive options for our guests (or just for a tipple on your own!).
But first, a bit of background on Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir wines are generally lighter weight than most reds, and have a complex structure and very specific balance of fruit and acidity. The varietal originated in France, and is truly the oldest of French grapes. It’s home is in the Burgundy region, and in my opinion, it’s no wonder English kings fought so hard for this region - it had to be the wine. The varietal is now grown around the world in cooler climates like Niagara, Oregon and of course, Napa and the Sonoma Valley.
Pinot Noir is a difficult wine to dealcoholize because of it’s elegant and nuanced personality. There are huge expectations for non-alcoholic red wines, and it is honestly hard to judge this one because it’s a feat almost impossible to win. The criticism from wine snobs will be enormous, but let’s keep an open mind while we explore the St. Regis Selections Pinot Noir.
Appearance
A lot of non-alcoholic red wines are dark crimson or a deep red, but this was a surprise - it pours a light red brick colour just like a pinot noir.
Aroma
On the nose, it’s full of dark cherry and a hint of wood smoke and baking spice. It has none of the cooked wine or cooked grape aroma that so often disappoints. It’s a miracle, at this price point!
Taste
On the palette, there are lovely fresh notes of tart cherry, raspberry and a hint of strawberry, with a pop of bright acidity. There is a nice soft dryness to this non-alcoholic red, which doesn’t overpower but yet doesn’t get lost or overwhelmed with the juiciness. I was expecting some oakiness, and hoping for some earthiness, but even with that missing, the flavour is still commendable in a style of wine that is notoriously hard to get right.
(after years of doing this, people still ask me if it tastes like grape juice - this one does not, I promise)
Mouthfeel & Experience
The nicest part about this wine, especially at this affordable price point, is the experience. For a wine that presents with the opaqueness and flavour profile as this one, you might expect a thin mouthfeel but this has a medium-light body that mirrors the weight of a real pinot. It’s almost silky, and overall a really lovely experience.
What to pair with St. Regis Selection Pinot Noir
As this is a light wine with very little tannins, it’s not recommended to pair this with heavy red meat, but it will be a nice accompaniment to poultry and white or green side dishes like roasted brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes or beans. For entertaining, this would be an ideal non-alcoholic red to serve with all those holiday finger foods like stuffed brie, and those cranberry puff pastries everyone loves.
Overall
For a non-alcoholic wine available in grocery stores, the St. Regis Pinot Noir is a fantastic option and is much more complex and nuanced than I expected. At its wallet-friendly price point and great accessibility, this is definitely a non-alcoholic wine worth trying.
Score: 90
You can find St. Regis wines on the shelf at most grocery stores in Canada. St. Regis Selections availability varies depending on location as they roll out across the country.
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.
Overall: St Regis Selections Pinot Noir is a good, standard non-alcoholic red that shows the promise of an excellent wine. It has some personality and character and is very enjoyable to drink, and exemplifies a classic pinot noir without the alcohol.
Score: 90 points
