Two pink sparklers, two different approaches to the Thanksgiving table. We poured Narrative XC Sparkling 2025 and the new XC Sparkling 0.5 alongside roast turkey, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings.
Both are priced at $27.99. The 2025 XC Sparkling offers gentle bubbles and berry and citrus flavours at 11.5% alcohol, while the dealcoholized XC Sparkling 0.5 gives guests an option to reduce their alcohol intake.
A New Chapter for Narrative
Announced on October 6, 2026, Narrative XC Sparkling 0.5 is a 200-case trial release. Okanagan Crush Pad invites customers to taste it and share feedback.
The project followed experimentation after the 2024 freeze. Chief winemaker Matthew Dumayne emphasizes that quality fruit and careful winemaking must provide the foundation for dealcoholized wine.
The team trialled hundreds of European and North American non-alcoholic wines, aiming to preserve the texture, balance and enjoyment people expect from wine.
Narrative XC Sparkling 2025 ($27.99 / 750 mL)
Vineyard
The base blend is 56% Auxerrois and 44% Chardonnay, with all the fruit for that blend sourced from King Family Vineyard in Naramata.
Winemaking
The base wine was fermented in concrete, stainless steel and large barrels, adding complexity and texture while retaining freshness.
It then underwent 90 days of secondary fermentation in Charmat tanks. The name XC, the Roman numeral for 90, refers to that period.
A Pinot Noir dosage gives the wine its bright berry hue.
The wine is packaged in lightweight glass with a Stelvin screwcap closure. According to the winery, partially finished bottles retain their sparkle and flavour for a few days when stored appropriately.
Technical Specifications
Alcohol: 11.5% / Brix: 19 / pH: 3.12 / Total acidity: 8.1 g/L / Residual sugar: 5.2 g/L / Bottle size: 750 mL
Tasting Notes
Bright aromas of citrus, strawberry, raspberry and white peach lead into a crisp, dry palate of Okanagan apple, tart rhubarb and pink lemonade. Gentle bubbles and a creamy mouthfeel add texture, with a refreshing lemon-lime finish and a touch of minerality. 91 Points.
Suggested food pairing: Seafood, sushi, light appetizers, soft cheeses or roast turkey. Serve well chilled.
Narrative XC Sparkling 0.5 ($27.99 / 750 mL)
Grape Blend
56% Auxerrois and 44% Chardonnay.
Winemaking
XC Sparkling 0.5 is a dealcoholized sparkling wine that extends the Narrative XC range into the non-alcoholic category.
The technical sheet emphasizes premium winemaking before dealcoholization. It does not specify the alcohol-removal method or vineyard source.
Technical Specifications
Alcohol: 0.5% / Bottle size: 750 mL / Production: 200 cases / Vegan: Labelled vegan / Origin: Product of Canada
Nutrition per 188 mL serving: 50 calories / Carbohydrate: 7 g / Sugars: 5 g / Fat: 0 g / Protein: 0.1 g / Sodium: 0 mg
Ingredients: Grape wine, sugar, potassium sorbate and potassium metabisulphite. Contains sulphites.
Tasting Notes
Pale pink in the glass, with delicate bubbles and fresh citrus and strawberry aromas. The light, refreshing palate offers ripe apple and bright citrus flavours, complemented by subtle minerality. An easygoing sparkler with a clean, lively finish. 89 Points.
Serving
Serve well chilled alongside appetizers or a meal, and refrigerate after opening, as directed on the back label. The winery encourages customers to share feedback on this first release.
At Our Thanksgiving Table
These are light, approachable sparklers with different roles at the table. XC Sparkling 2025 offers more texture and flavour, with berry and citrus notes, gentle bubbles and a creamy mouthfeel. XC Sparkling 0.5 takes a lighter approach, offering delicate fruit and freshness with very little alcohol.
Both wines offered a casual sparkling option alongside our turkey dinner. The more interesting development is Narrative’s addition of a dealcoholized choice.
At the same $27.99 price, the decision comes down to what you want in your glass: the fuller wine experience of XC Sparkling 2025 or the reduced alcohol of XC Sparkling 0.5.
Where to Buy
XC Sparkling 0.5 is available from the winery at $27.99. Visit Narrative Winery for more information about the wines and purchasing.
Vineyard and winemaking information comes from the supplied technical sheets; nutrition and ingredients are transcribed from the XC Sparkling 0.5 back label. Tasting impressions and scores are my own.