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| Discover the best lower-alcohol wines in our expert's selection |
WINES low in alcohol can be big on flavour, says our expert.
Alcohol makes you drunk. It should hardly come as a surprise to read that, I know, but it also has other side effects – one of which is it piles on the pounds. This is perhaps why more people are turning to lighter wines.
So for any calorie-counting readers – or just for those occasions when you want to take it easier – here are some of my favourite lower-alcohol wines.
From left:
Torres Natureo Rosé 2013, Spain £5.99, Waitrose, Ocado, 0.5% alcohol
This is made as a normal wine and then, using sophisticated technology, has most of the alcohol removed.
But the finished product doesn’t lose anything in the process. This is an attractive rosé, full of sweet, bright, fruity cherries with a hint of strawberry and flavours of fresh grapes.
FirstCape Sparkler Made with Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa £5, Asda, 5.5% alcohol
A blend of roughly half sauvignon blanc with half mixer, this is refreshing and lightly sparkling, with a grassy elderflower character. It’s fruity and not too sweet.
Dr L Riesling 2014, Mosel, Germany £7, Sainsbury’s, Majestic, Asda, 8.5% alcohol
German riesling is the original lighter-alcohol wine. This delicious example from the Mosel region is a just-off dry white with lemony flavours complemented by some honey and grape richness.
Simply Riesling NV, Germany £4.79, Tesco, 10.5% alcohol
Cheap and very drinkable, this German riesling makes an ideal patio lunch wine. It’s fruity, lively and off-dry, relatively low in alcohol and with lush pear and citrus fruit flavours.
Winemakers’ Selection Vinho Verde NV, Portugal £5, Sainsbury’s, 9% alcohol
Northern Portugal’s Vinho Verde region is known for its lighter whites. Perfumed, pure and floral with some grapey fruit, this is an appealing, easy wine with a gentle prickle of fizz.
Gallo Family Vineyards Pineapple & Passionfruit Spritz, Italy £5.99, Asda, Ocado, Tesco and Morrisons, 5.5% alcohol
This is pinot grigio blended with natural flavours – and it works very well. Pale in colour, it is sweet and fruity with subtle pineapple and passion fruit flavours, kept fresh with a bit of fizziness.
Winemaker’s Choice Lambrusco Rosso NV, Emilia, Italy £2.47, Asda, 4% alcohol
A classic and very affordable low-alcohol choice, this is bright cherry red in colour and has vibrant, sweet raspberry and blackberry fruit.
There is some spicy bite to it, too. Fermentation is stopped early to ensure a low-alcohol content while retaining plenty of natural sweetness.
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