Looking to cut back your alcohol consumption? Sippd has you covered with these low alcohol wines
“Dry January” is once again upon us! A time when many choose to avoid those boozy bottles for 31 days to refocus their health resolutions for the new year. However, if a “dry-ish January” is more your style and cutting back is the name of your game, Sippd has you covered with low alcohol wines.
We are here to tell you that not all wines are the same, and there are plenty of libations out there to help you stay on track with your New Year’s Resolutions. You may think that you need to give up that second glass of wine to make a real difference, but simply choosing a wine with a lower ABV could reduce your intake by up to half.
Unsure where to start? Download the Sippd app to explore lower alcohol options in a wine list we’re calling “Dry-ish January”!
How do we get alcohol in wine?
Before we can even talk about low ABV wines, we should understand how we get alcohol in our wine in the first place. In 30 seconds or less, here is your science lesson. Wine is a fermented beverage. During the fermentation process, the yeast eats sugar found in the ripened grapes without oxygen. The bi-products of yeast eating sugar in the absence of oxygen is alcohol and CO2. The CO2 leaves into the universe (except when we make sparkling wine) while the alcohol absorbs the grape juice. Therefore the riper the grape, the more sugar for the yeast to eat, the higher the alcohol in the wine will be.
What are low ABV wines?
Low ABV wines are simply wines with low alcohol by volume (ABV). While there is no official definition, these wines typically range between 5 and 11 percent ABV. For reference, wine can be anywhere between 5% and 23% ABV, with white wines usually falling between 5% to 14% (ABV) and red wines typically falling between 12% and 17%. Red wines are higher in alcohol than white wines because black grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah take longer to ripen due to their thicker skins. Therefore they are usually harvested late in the season, leaving them with more sugar than the grapes used in white wines, so fermentation leads to a higher alcohol concentration.
While you’re likely to see a sudden flood of new brands producing lower-ABV versions of the popular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, etc., we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to ditch “real” bottles to find some low-ABV options.
Alright, the science lesson is over (phew), and it’s time to get back to sipping. Check out this list for 7 of the best lower alcohol wines for you to try for a dry-ish January! P.S. And they’re all available to shop in the Sippd app.
1. Prosecco
This world-famous Italian sparkler is light, affordable, and low in alcohol! Prosecco is an excellent choice for those looking to cut back their alcohol consumption without missing out on that celebratory toast with bubbly aromas of pear, apple, and melon. Additionally, Prosecco is the best wine to create those delicious low ABV brunch cocktails, such as the Bellini or Mimosa
Sippd Pro Tip: Try this fresh Bellini Recipe (you’ll thank us later)
- Placing diced peaches, lemon juice, and sugar in a food processor and process until smooth
- Separate the puree from the peach solids.
- Place two tablespoons of the peach puree into each flute glass and fill with cold prosecco
- Drink
2. Moscato d’Asti
Another Italian creation, Moscato d’Asti (translation: Moscato from Asti, Italy), is a fun, fizzy wine from the North of Italy. This wine is known for its delicate sweetness with bursting aromas of honeysuckle, tangerine, and ripe peach. Because of its unique production methods, Moscato d’Asti averages at 6% ABV, making it an excellent choice for a low-guilt glass of vino.
Sippd Pro Tip: Try a glass of Moscato d’Asti with some spicy Chinese food for an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
3. Riesling
Riesling is one of the most recognizable low alcohol varietals in the world of wine. It’s a deliciously aromatic white wine that is native to Germany. Riesling boasts crisp flavors of green apples, lime, and beeswax, along with high levels of lip-smacking acidity. Dry Riesling usually falls between 9% and 11% ABV.
Sippd Pro Tip: Looking for an even lower ABV? Try Rieslings from Mosel, Germany, labeled with the word ‘Kabinett .’ These wines may taste sweeter but will only be about 8% ABV.
4. Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde is a small region in Northern Portugal. Though the area produces whites, reds, and rosés, we will focus on the whites in this article. Portugal’s Vinho Verde white wines are adored for their zipping acidity, subtle effervescent, and, you guessed it, low ABV.
5. Txakolina
Don’t be discouraged by the tongue-twisting name, Txakolina (pronounced: Chah-Kuh-leena), is a light, fresh white wine with tangy acidity from Spain’s Basque Country. Clocking in between 10% and 11.5% ABV, its bracing minerality and slight fizzing texture make Txakolina the perfect guilt-free pairing to raw seafood and citrus-filled ceviche.
6. Gamay
Gamay is known for its light body, bright acidity, and low tannin structure, but not all Gamay’s are the same when it comes to ABV. If you are a red wine drinker looking to cut back on alcohol intake, you should look for wines that fall under 12.5% ABV. In particular, we look for wines from cooler climates because the grapes tend to be less ripened, which means less sugar and less alcohol in the final product. For a cool climate Gamay, look for a bottle from the French region Beaujolais.
7. Schiava
Schiava, sometimes called Vernatsch and sometimes called Trollinger (confusing, we know!), is a light-bodied, feminine, and elegant wine found buried in the Italian Alps. These wines usually fall under 12% ABV with unique aromas of strawberry, rose, cotton candy, and a smoky finish.
Sippd Pro Tip: Though it’s a red wine, try Schiava slightly chilled to make this wine really shine.
Low alcohol doesn’t mean less delicious, less variety, or less fun. So, whether you are looking for the ideal after-work treat or a celebratory glass, all while decreasing your alcohol intake, there is an array of low ABV wines waiting on the Sippd app for you to try.
Download Sippd for free and head to the “Dry-ish January” list to find your new favorite lower alcohol wine in seconds. We’ll even give you a 1-100% personalized wine score (what we call “Taste Match”) to each wine so you know how much you’ll enjoy the bottle before you even taste it. Download Sippd for free. Enjoy!
