Lono Rosé 2025

As the name suggests, we’re in the low- and no-alcohol realm for this wine. It’s made from King Valley Shiraz by John Stokes of Wood Park. The production method is certainly interesting. A snippet from the press release reads: “Developed in collaboration with a renowned  Rosé producer from Provence, France, this innovative process follows a different fermentation pathway where alcohol never develops, eliminating the need for removal and the flavour loss that often comes with it.” It’s an ambitious approach. At 0.5% ABV, it’s softly aromatic, with notes of ripe watermelon, raspberry frog, musk stick and a flicker of pepper spice, though the perfume does feel quite dilute. The palate delivers a sweep of fruit sweetness up front, mirroring the nose with watermelon and musk, before dropping away quickly to a short finish and some chalky tannins. There’s promise in the technique and the category as a whole, but this rendition doesn’t quite come together, even at the price point. Still, well-chilled on a hot day, those after a straightforward non-alc option might find it hits the brief.