Low Alcohol Wine Styles
We've all been there, we want to have a glass (or two), but there are plenty of reasons why we can't or shouldn't. Sometimes there might just be a way however. In recent years there's been a push towards more 'balanced' wines - ie not so punchy and powerful, less weight and more acidity. A byproduct of this (given that the grapes are picked a little bit earlier) is that the alcohol levels across the board have come down.
So it's rarer these days to see a 15% alcohol red at a picnic. But the low alcohol idea is not a 'trend' - it's been around for a while
Some grapes naturally ripen earlier than others, whilst some develop fuller flavours at lower alcohols. Other wines still are not fermented completely dry, so they have some sweetness but a lower alcohol content.
Whatever you're drinking, it pays to have a little read of the label and see how much booze really is in your glass!
A quick breakdown of Low Alcohol styles
Early Harvest--red
Early Harvest - this has a range. So some wines are picked really early, and the alcohol level will end up around 9%. Others might just be a week or so earlier than is the norm, and might end up around 12%. There's no strict definition for what 'low' alcohol is, so both of these are considered valid.
Sweeter Wines--strawberry
The sugar in the grapes is what gets fermented into alcohol in wine. So if you leave some sugar in, you're going to have less alcohol. The famous sweet Rieslings of Germany are probably the best example here - stunning wines that are full-flavoured and complex, and often only 7% or 8%. Moscato is also a great example - nearly always 5% or thereabouts.
Industrial Intervention--cellar
There's a clever machine called a reverse osmosis machine, that is essentially an incredibly fine filter. Ethanol (ie alcohol) and water are the smallest molecules, and so will pass through. Everything else (all the good flavour bits) is kept aside. The water/ethanol combo is then distilled to separate the parts, and the water is added back to the 'wine'. Hey presto, a magically alcohol-reduced wine. Sadly these wines are often lacking flavour or character... seems like some of the good stuff sneaks through the filter after all.
FAQ
What wines are low in alcohol?
Wines can be low in alcohol if they are sweet, if they have had the alcohol removed, or if the grapes are picked earlier than usual to reduce the amount of sugar in them (which is converted into alcohol via fermentation)
Is low alcohol wine better for you?
Yes, as a general rule, the less alcohol you drink, the better. However if the wine is a sweet wine, then the excess sugar will not be good for you.
How do they make low alcohol wine?
The modern way of removing alcohol from wine is called reverse osmosis, whereby the wine is pumped at pressure against a filter, causing only the smaller molecules in the wine (ethanol and water) to be forced through, and leaving behind the larger (acid and flavour) molecules. Water can be added back to the resulting wine to balance it.
How many calories in low alcohol wine?
This depends on the sugar level of the wine, and as such can vary quite significantly. A standard glass of 12% abv sparkling wine with 10g/L of sugar will have about 100 calories in it, whereas a glass of 5% abv white wine with 1g/L of sugar will have about 41 calories. See this handy calculator to work it out
Which is the best low alcohol wine?
Whichever one you think tastes the best! Honestly at the moment the market for low alcohol wine is quite small, but it is expanding. We think the best ones are made without chemical or mechanical interference, and often enjoy a glass of one of the original low-alcohol wines, Moscato!
About the Author
Banjo Harris Plane is the three-time winner Sommelier of the Year Australia and a certified advanced Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. He first cut his teeth in the wine industry working as a sommelier in Australia's best restaurants, before starting multiple businesses in the space of a few years... these included two restaurants, a wine import business and co-founding Good Pair Days!