Clos du Soleil's new lower alcohol wines

Photo: Michael Clark of Clos du Soleil

The growing interest in lower-alcohol wines has led Michael Clark, the general manager and winemaker at Clos du Soleil Winery in the Similkameen, to launch two wines with nine per cent alcohol in the winery’s new Lumière Collection. These wines, the winery says, “offer a refreshing take on modern wine enjoyment: full flavour, less alcohol, and only around 80 calories per standard serving. The Lumière Collection is a response to growing demand for wines that align with modern values: moderation, health-conscious living, and versatility.”

The debut Lumière Collection wines, along with other 2024 vintage wines Clos du Soleil is releasing, are made with grapes from Washington State because the sharp freeze in the Similkameen early in 2024 wiped out most of the grape production in B.C.’s interior vineyards. Michael plans to make subsequent vintages of Lumière wines from Clos du Soleil’s vineyards as production is resumed there.

The challenge with low-alcohol winemaking is to produce wines with personality. “Many lower-alcohol wines on the market today sacrifice character and complexity,” Michael says. “We wanted to challenge that—crafting wines that offer the same richness and aromatics Clos du Soleil is known for, in a lighter style that offers another option to suit today’s diverse lifestyles.” Through meticulous vineyard planning, careful fermentation, and gentle alcohol-reduction techniques, the team was able to preserve the integrity and mouthfeel of the wines while achieving a lower alcohol content, the winery says. This was followed by strategic blending and cellar work to ensure the final wines retained body, texture, and balance.

“We grew the grapes for this wine knowing that we would be producing these Lumière Collection wines, so we worked hard with our growers to grow grapes which have freshness, bright acidity, and ripe flavours,” Michael says. “Sauvignon Blanc and Sangiovese grapes were chosen specifically for this reason: both varieties feature a pronounced flavour profile which shine through even in a lower alcohol offering, ensuring that even with a lighter profile, these wines are rich in taste and complexity.” Alcohol was reduced after fermentation by what Michael calls “the minimal-required amount of a gentle technology to further reduce the alcohol while protecting the high-quality flavours and aromatics of these wines.”

Here are notes on the wines.

Clos du Soleil Lumière Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ($25.90 for 125 cases). The fruit is from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area). The wine is crisp and refreshing, with aromas and flavours of lime and grapefruit. 88.

Clos du Soleil Lumière Collection Rosé 2024 ($25.90 for 149 cases). The Sangiovese grapes in this wine are from the Yakima Valley AVA. The grapes were destemmed, lightly crushed and pressed almost immediately. Hence, the colour is fashionably pale. Fermentation was in stainless steel, cool and with oxygen contact avoided. The wine has aromas and flavours of strawberries and watermelon with a surprisingly full palate for a low-alcohol wine. 90.

Clos du Soleil Washington Series Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ($25.90 for 659 cases). The fruit is also from a grower in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The berries were lightly crushed. The juice was soaked on the skins for four hours under dry ice and then pressed. Fermentation was in stainless steel tanks as well as in French oak puncheons. The wine was aged on the lees for five months. This is a fine mouth-filling wine with aromas and flavours of lime and grapefruit. 90.

Clos du Soleil Washington Series Chardonnay 2024 ($29.90 for 334 cases). The fruit is from a grower in the Yakima Valley AVA. The berries were pressed immediately after harvest and the juice was fermented in older French oak puncheons. This is a fruit-forward Chardonnay with aromas and flavours of apple, pear and quince. The finish is rich and long. 90.

Clos du Soleil Washington Series Rosé 2024 ($25.90 for 679 cases). The Sangiovese grapes in this wine are from the Yakima Valley AVA. The berries were lightly crushed and pressed almost immediately. Hence, the wine has a delicate rose petal hue. Cool fermentation, with no oxygen contact, was in stainless steel. The wine is crisp and fresh, with aromas and flavours of strawberry and cherry. 90