Wine is a staple for many households around the world, but like many good things in life, it also has some downsides. For starters, wine is particularly high in calories and alcohol (at least compared to mass-market options like light beers and fortified seltzers).
But lighter wines, including those with less sugar, fewer calories, and less alcohol (or even no alcohol at all), exist so you don’t have to compromise taste or quality at all. every sip. In fact, winemakers have found clever ways to preserve the expression and character of wine – a win-win for real grape gurus who understand and appreciate the multidimensionality of flavor complexity in a mouthful.
To answer all your burning questions about who claimed a stake in a nearly $600 billion industry, we tapped into the brains of a few wine experts and pros for their take on the growing light wine trend. and low in calories.
It is first important to differentiate between light wines and low calorie wines. The former, in technical terms, refers to any “light” wine with an alcohol content of less than 12.5 percent.
Due to the demand for “lighter” options, it is now common to hear the phrase “light wine” also referring to a bottle with fewer calories, carbohydrates, sugars and/or alcohol. . Just keep in mind that this double meaning was not the case before, much to the chagrin of many sommeliers. Therefore, you may instead hear them refer to these varieties as “healthier” or “healthier” wines, which may not be entirely accurate from a nutritionist’s point of view.
It is also necessary to note that lighter wines may not technically be wines at all.
“Low- and alcohol-free wine is something of a paradox since, legally, there is no such thing as when ‘wine’ must contain a minimum of 8% alcohol by volume unless specifically exempted” , explains Rachel Thralls, certified sommelier and wine educator. for Sonoma County winemakers.
“A lot of people who love wine don’t want to drink a very alcoholic bottle every night – they want options that go with their food and their lifestyle without making them feel the effects of too much alcohol consumption. “, explains Virginie Boone, Sonoma. wine writer, critic and author of Good things column.
“We’ve seen over the last five years or so that consumers have become more and more health conscious in what they eat,” he says. “These long-term dietary trends have extended to alcoholic beverages, with wine drinkers seeking wines that are lower in calories, carbohydrates and sugar.”
As a result, the varieties not only boast the aforementioned lower calories, carbs, and sugar, but also low-to-zero ABV so consumers — especially millennials — can enjoy social gatherings without having to sacrifice food choices. healthier lives.
The most important element of “healthier” winemaking (at least from a winemaker’s perspective) is to reduce calories and/or alcohol while preserving the integrity of the grape. You can, of course, mechanically strip the wine of its sugars, but this will likely result in a sour, almost medicinal flavor that bears no resemblance to real wine.
All in all, it seems that the most efficient way to get a low sugar wine is to pick the grapes early.
“One of the most natural ways to reduce sugar and alcohol in wine is to harvest grapes at a lower Brix level. Brix measures the must (sugar) levels in wine grapes that ultimately determine how much alcohol a wine will have,” reveals Karissa Kruse, president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers Association. “The lower the Brix, while maintaining flavors and acidity, will lead to a lower calorie and lower sweet wine.”
“We select cooler vineyard sites that have great flavor development at naturally lower sugar levels,” adds Will Wiles, senior director of winemaking at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “This combination makes it possible to obtain wines with less alcohol and fewer calories without intervention. Many popular “better for you” wines achieve their lower alcohol levels by removing alcohol through filtration methods which can negatively impact character, complexity and flavor. It seems simple to start in the vineyard, but we truly believe it makes for the best tasting wine.
Although wines are not legally required to affix a nutrition label with a list of ingredients, be on the lookout for impostors disguised as clever marketing.
“Just like Cheez Whiz isn’t real cheese, some of the brands in this category aren’t real wine at all,” says Beck. “These are processed drinks made by adding water and alcohol to a bunch of flavorings and additives.”
Look for brands that include nutrition and ingredient information on the bottle, advises Wiles. “Many brands are proactively transparent because consumers increasingly expect it. It only makes sense that when you have access to knowledge about what you’re consuming, you can have confidence in the choices you make.
And while it might seem like a no-brainer, the first attribute you’ll want to look for is a product made from fermented grapes. Surprisingly, that’s not always the case with many mainstream brands that are loaded with artificial flavors and alcohol that doesn’t even come from the fruit.
Now that you know all about low-calorie, here are the experts’ recommendations for light wines:
“In addition to the Liquid Light wines (which feature early harvest grapes and a nutrition label right on the can), I really enjoy Château Ste. Michelle’s Dry Riesling from Washington State. This is a dry, refreshing style of Riesling with lovely fruit flavors and crisp acidity. It is also a low alcohol and low calorie wine. Also from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Elements Peach Ginger White Blend contains no added sugar and contains less than 100 calories per glass. This is a decadent white wine with flavors of fresh, ripe peaches and just the right amount of ginger spice. Both are great Washington State options that fall into the “best for you” category.
“The most exciting low-alcohol wine I’ve had recently comes from a producer called Libby, who focuses on sustainably grown, California-grown bubble wine with fewer calories and less alcohol. They bottle it with a crown cork and make white, pink and red versions of it which are pretty good. Other Sonoma County producers to look out for include Cruse Wine Co., Kivelstadt Cellars, and Scribe Winery, but many are working to offer lighter style wines.