The best lower-alcohol wines
Dry January might be almost over, but there are still times you want a lighter glass or two – our wine expert has discovered the ultimate buys.
Dry January might be almost over, but there are still times you want a lighter glass or two – our wine expert has discovered the ultimate buys.
I’m not quite half the man I used to be – more like two thirds. Several years ago, I lost six stone with a blend of moving more, and eating and drinking less.
But I never gave up wine – rather, I went lighter and lower in alcohol. And I still include such lighter, lower alcohol wine styles in my weekly repertoire.
Not just because they have fewer calories, but because sometimes I want to feel a little fresher the next day.
If that sounds like something you want to try out, a wine like Obra Maestra Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (RRP £10.99) is a good place to start. At 10.6%, it has about 25% less alcohol than 'full fat' wines. But it’s still packed with zesty, tropical fruit, and has a crisp, lingering finish. It’s a fabulous match for salads and goat’s cheese dishes.
For fish dishes, meanwhile, try Quintas do Homem Domum Vinho Verde 2024 (RRP £12.99) from Portugal. Cool sea breezes keep this naturally low in alcohol (11% ABV), and let the wine focus on its limey, grassy freshness. In Portugal, they drink it with grilled sardines.
At the time I was on my weight-loss drive, low-alcohol reds were disappointing. But Noughty Non-Alcoholic Rouge NV (RRP £10.50) has been a total game-changer. It’s a versatile, midweek red for pasta and light grills, with lots of cherry and berry fruit. And at only 0.5% alcohol, you’ll wake up the next day as fresh as a daisy.
Going low is also a great way to explore new wines and styles. A few weeks ago, I had a fabulous evening drinking Flint Vineyard Charmat Rose NV (RRP £22.99). At just 11.5%, you can have an extra glass of the juicy, vibrant fizz – and I did. It’s possibly England’s most exciting sparkling wine.
As for my secret pleasure? Amatista Moscato Rosé NV (RRP £6.99), which is my go-to Thai curry wine. It’s an off-dry, 5% ABV refreshing glass of giggles that envelopes spicy flavours within its soft and fruity flavours.
If you ever wonder what (slim) wine writers drink at home, it’s this handful of wonders.
(Hero image credit: Getty)
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