| Low alcohol wines used to be frowned at by | | | | wine benefits, a healthy lifestyle must be |
| most wine drinkers, especially wine snobs, but | | | | maintained. |
| now, is a low alcohol wine a trendy alternative? | | | | However, while there are these proven health |
| The answer has to be yes, for several reasons. | | | | benefits, it is often overlooked that alcohol is not |
| The sudden increase in interest in wines with a | | | | one of them. Alcohol impairs the liver and nervous |
| lower alcohol by volume (abv.) has perhaps been | | | | system, and burdens the body with unnecessary |
| brought on by global warming as well as a few | | | | calories which can lead to depression. It is these |
| other factors. | | | | calories that can be avoided by consuming low |
| I hear you say, how come? Well in the last 15 | | | | alcohol wines. |
| years some wines have increased by between | | | | Is there a future for low alcohol wine? |
| 2% to 3% abv. which means that a red wine that | | | | Most people would be happy to drink lower alcohol |
| may have been 13% abv. is now coming out at | | | | wines from certain varieties so long as they |
| around 15% abv. This is a massive increase due | | | | tasted the same as regular wines. The white |
| to warmer weather enabling higher natural sugar | | | | wines would not be so full and flabby as with |
| levels. If these sugars are totally converted into | | | | higher alcohols, but more crisp and delicate with |
| alcohol to produce a bone dry wine then a | | | | attractive, light fruity citrous flavours. |
| blockbuster awaits - one or two glasses and | | | | Cool climate winegrowing is a way forward to |
| you're on the floor! | | | | producing fruit with less sugar and more acid, |
| To counteract very high sugar production, | | | | resulting in fresh, racy wines - ideal for summer |
| vineyards are producing grapes in high altitude, | | | | drinking or as an accompaniment to fish, chicken |
| cool climate vinegrowing areas such as New | | | | and spicy foods. A red wine with 11.5% abv. |
| Zealand, Chile and Argentina. Producers in | | | | would not appear so heavy as its 14% or 15% |
| Germany are also providing popular low alcohol | | | | counterpart, but would be just as flavoursome |
| versions of Rieslings to enable light summer white | | | | and drinkable without that knockout punch! |
| wine drinking styles to be made. | | | | Be sensible, drink wisely. |
| What about the health benefits? | | | | Over the years the size of the average wine |
| It is well known that there are benefits to health | | | | glass has got bigger in order to accommodate |
| from drinking wine in moderation, especially red | | | | keen customers - and sell more wine! Drinking a |
| wine. These benefits include: | | | | large glass of a high alcohol wine can be the same |
| - The ability to lower cholesterol within the body | | | | as consuming perhaps three glasses of a low |
| reducing the risk of having blood clots. | | | | alcohol wine. Not good for your health, let alone |
| - Being a source of antioxidants, which are | | | | your pocket. |
| responsible for cleansing most of the human | | | | Maybe now a low alcohol wine really is a trendy |
| system. | | | | alternative as well as being better for your health. |
| - Lower alcohol intake means fewer calories | | | | By cutting down on the alcohol, you would be |
| ingested - ideal for weight-watchers. | | | | reducing your calorie intake quite dramatically, so |
| It should be noted that to make use of these | | | | why not give it a go. |