{"id":226220,"date":"2026-01-04T02:09:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T02:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/226220\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T02:09:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T02:09:12","slug":"four-lower-alcohol-wines-for-the-new-year-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/226220\/","title":{"rendered":"Four lower-alcohol wines for the new year \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a growing market for lower-alcohol wines, although sometimes I wonder if they are more talked about than consumed. Low alcohol can mean anything from 1 per cent to 11 per cent. The definition of low alcohol in the UK is less than 1.2 per cent. These are essentially alcohol-free wines. Elsewhere, low alcohol can mean anything up to 11 per cent or more. The Wine Spectator magazine argues that 12 per cent or anything less is low in alcohol. <\/p>\n

As temperatures rise worldwide, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep alcohol levels down. Producers must either harvest earlier or use various technologies to remove some or all the alcohol. There is a balance to be struck; remove too much alcohol and it may be a pleasant drink, but it won\u2019t taste like wine. It is possible to find wines at 8-12.5 per cent that are naturally low in alcohol either because the grapes have been picked early, or because the vines are grown in cooler climates. <\/p>\n

White and sparkling wines are generally lower in alcohol than red. You are more likely to find lower alcohol wines in cooler regions such as the Loire valley, Germany, Austria, northern Italy, and of course, Ireland!<\/p>\n

Traces is a range of lower-alcohol, lower-calorie wines launched last year. The sauvignon has 78 calories per 125ml. <\/p>\n

Domaine la Combette is one of the more innovative estates in the Languedoc, growing hybrid varieties, and producing low-alcohol, alcohol-free and standard wines. The ros\u00e9 below and its sauvignon are best-sellers in many of our independent retail shops. <\/p>\n

Made from a blend of three hybrid varieties \u2013 Artaban (red), Flor\u00e9al (white), and Vidoc (red) \u2013 the 003 Ch\u00e2teau Grand Chemin could be an example of how wine will taste in the future. <\/p>\n

One of my favourite aperitifs is a Riesling Kabinett from the Mosel. Delicate, aromatic and light in alcohol, they have a barely perceptible sweetness balanced by a fine acidity. <\/p>\n

\"TracesTraces Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Pays d\u2019Oc Traces Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Pays d\u2019Oc11%, \u20ac15 (less when on promotion)<\/p>\n

Light and refreshing with zesty pear fruits. <\/p>\n

From Tesco, Circle K, Drinkwellireland.com<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"DomaineDomaine La Colombette Grenache Ros\u00e9 2024, Languedoc Domaine La Colombette Grenache Ros\u00e9 2024, Languedoc11%, \u20ac13-15<\/p>\n

Light and refreshing with juicy strawberry fruits and a nicely rounded finish. Perfect sipping wine.<\/p>\n

Widely available from independents<\/p>\n

\"003003 Domaine Grand-Chemin 2024 C\u00e9vennes, Languedoc 003 Domaine Grand-Chemin 2024 C\u00e9vennes, Languedoc11.5%, \u20ac23<\/p>\n

Very attractive light refreshing wine with red cherries, rhubarb and a nice earthiness. An enjoyable and different vin de soif. <\/p>\n

From Whelehans, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin<\/p>\n

\"VeldenzerVeldenzer Elisenberger Riesling Kabinett 2024, Von Richter, Mosel Veldenzer Elisenberger Riesling Kabinett 2024, Von Richter, Mosel7.5%, \u20ac27-28<\/p>\n

Fresh, light and full of orange and orchard fruits, finishing crisp and just a little off-dry. An attractive aperitif or with sushi and seafood. <\/p>\n

From TheAllotment.ie<\/a>; Martin\u2019s Off Licence, Dublin 3; Blackrock Cellar, Co Dublin; Mitchell & Son, Glasthule, Co Dublin and Hatch Street, Dublin 2; Clontarf Wines, Dublin 3; MacCurtain, Cork<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There is a growing market for lower-alcohol wines, although sometimes I wonder if they are more talked about…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":226221,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[72,61,60,709,17328],"class_list":{"0":"post-226220","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-ie","10":"tag-ireland","11":"tag-magazine","12":"tag-wine"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226220\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/226221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}