Any recommendations for good lower alcohol wine?

November 13, 2006 11:19 AM

I'm looking for recommendations for wine that is naturally low in alcohol (as opposed to the dealcoholised versions). There are quite a few German wines in the 7-8% ABV category e.g. by Dr Loosen but they are (a) a bit sweet and (b) very very expensive. Anyone got any other suggestions?
posted by janecr to Food & Drink (7 answers total)

I no longer live in walking distance of an excellent wine store [insert bitter lament here], but there should be lots of German wines available at that alcohol level—German wines are known for that. It's true that rieslings used to be vinified at least slightly sweet, but they've been making drier wines for the export market. And the "very very expensive" ones tend, if anything, to be sweeter; where are you doing your research? If you go into any good wine store with a decent German selection, they should be able to find one in your price range.
posted by languagehat at 12:04 PM on November 13, 2006

In the summer, I love to drink vinho verde, a Portugese controlled appellation. It's very young, tart, often a little fizzy white wine, best served on the cold side. Tends to run about 9-10% ABV, and rarely more than $10 per bottle.
posted by letourneau at 12:32 PM on November 13, 2006

Response by poster: I'm researching online at Berry Bros and Rudd as lots of the other online wine sites don't give the ABV. Prices range from £10 to £200+... Have tried places locally but not a huge range of German wines (market in UK still recovering from the Liebfraumilch years, maybe) and those in the lower ABV are in same price range.
posted by janecr at 12:35 PM on November 13, 2006

I'll second the vinho verde recommendation.
posted by rxrfrx at 7:32 PM on November 13, 2006

I think you may be running up against a legal definition. Isn't it the case that if the alcohol content is too low, they're not allowed to call it "wine"?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 1:36 AM on November 14, 2006

Response by poster: Apparently French law forbids any fermented grape-based drink containing less than 8% alcohol from calling itself wine, but not aware of similar laws in other countries?
posted by janecr at 4:01 AM on November 14, 2006

Thirding vinho verde. Make sure it's not more than a year old.
posted by Utilitaritron at 6:35 AM on November 15, 2006