Check the ABV
The alcohol percentage on the label is the fastest way to find a lighter wine.
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Wine Types
Want wine with less punch? A good low alcohol wine can still be full of flavor, and some classic styles are naturally light. Here are the best ones and how to find them.
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Most still wines today contain about 12–15% alcohol by volume (ABV). Anything below about 11% is generally considered a lighter or low alcohol wine, and some classic styles sit as low as 5–6%. These are not the same as non-alcoholic wine, which has had nearly all its alcohol removed and must be under 0.5% in the US. Low-alcohol wines are usually made that way on purpose, through grape choice, climate, and winemaking. Because alcohol adds body and warmth, lighter wines tend to feel crisp, delicate, and refreshing. They are a great fit for daytime drinking, long lunches, warm weather, and anyone who wants to enjoy a second glass while drinking less overall. Our wine alcohol content guide shows typical ranges by style.
Alcohol comes from sugar. Yeast converts the sugar in ripe grapes into alcohol, so the riper the grapes, the stronger the wine can be. That gives winemakers three main ways to keep alcohol low. First, climate: grapes from cool regions ripen more slowly and gather less sugar, so wines from places like Germany, northern Portugal, and the Loire are often lighter than wines from hot regions. Second, earlier picking: harvesting grapes before they reach full ripeness keeps sugar levels down and acidity high. Third, stopping fermentation: chilling and filtering the wine before all the sugar is used up leaves sweetness behind and keeps alcohol low. That is why many of the lightest wines are slightly sweet. Some modern wines also have part of their alcohol removed with technology.
Moscato d’Asti from Piedmont is one of the lightest wines in the world, often around 5–6% ABV, with gentle bubbles and flavors of peach and orange blossom; see our Moscato guide. Kabinett Riesling from Germany’s Mosel often sits around 7–9%, with lime, green apple, and a touch of sweetness balanced by high acidity; more on Riesling. Vinho Verde from northern Portugal is crisp, lightly spritzy, and frequently around 9–11%; explore the Vinho Verde region. Hunter Valley Semillon from Australia is picked early, usually 10–11.5%, and tastes of lemon and grass when young, developing toasty notes with age. Spanish Txakoli from the Basque Country is another zesty, lower-alcohol option.
Red wines tend to be stronger because red grapes are usually picked riper, but there are still good lighter choices. Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna is a fizzy red, often around 8–11%, with dry and sweet styles bursting with cherry and violet. Brachetto d’Acqui from Piedmont is a sweet, sparkling red that is often about 5–7% and tastes of strawberries and roses. Light, cool-climate reds such as Gamay from Beaujolais, Loire Valley Cabernet Franc, and Austrian Zweigelt are often about 12–13%, lower than big reds that can reach 15%. Some Portuguese and Spanish rosés and many sweet blush wines like White Zinfandel are also lighter, often around 9–11%. Serve light reds slightly chilled to keep them fresh.
Every bottle lists its alcohol by volume, usually in small print on the front or back label. That number is your best guide. A few other clues help. Grape and region give strong hints: German Riesling, Moscato, and Vinho Verde lean light, while Zinfandel, Amarone, Shiraz, and Napa Cabernet lean strong. German Riesling labeled Kabinett tends to be lighter than Spätlese or Auslese. Note that in the US, a label can show a range or round the figure, so a wine marked 13.5% may be a little higher or lower. Some newer bottles say lighter or reduced alcohol; these often have alcohol partly removed. Our how to read a wine label guide shows exactly where to look on different bottles.
Low-alcohol wines shine with food and warm weather. Off-dry Riesling and Moscato d’Asti are perfect with spicy Thai and Indian dishes, since their gentle sweetness calms chili heat and low alcohol keeps the burn down. Vinho Verde and Txakoli suit seafood, salads, and tapas. Lambrusco loves pizza and cured meats. Serve whites and sparkling wines cold, around 40–48°F, and light reds at about 55°F. Remember that lighter does not mean alcohol-free; a 9% wine still contains alcohol, and pour size matters as much as ABV. Lower-alcohol wines generally contain fewer calories, unless they are sweet; see calories in wine. For warm-weather picks, browse our best summer wines.
| Wine | Typical ABV | Style and Taste |
|---|---|---|
| Moscato d'Asti (Italy) | About 5–6% | Sweet, lightly fizzy, peach and orange blossom |
| Brachetto d'Acqui (Italy) | About 5–7% | Sweet, sparkling red, strawberry and rose |
| Mosel Riesling Kabinett (Germany) | About 7–9% | Off-dry, lime, green apple, crisp |
| Lambrusco (Italy) | About 8–11% | Fizzy red, cherry and violet, dry or sweet |
| Vinho Verde (Portugal) | About 9–11% | Crisp, lightly spritzy, citrus |
| Hunter Valley Semillon (Australia) | About 10–11.5% | Dry, lemon, grass, ages into toast |
The alcohol percentage on the label is the fastest way to find a lighter wine.
Germany, northern Portugal, and the Loire produce many naturally lighter wines.
Many very low-alcohol wines keep some sugar, which balances their high acidity.
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Take the Wine QuizMoscato d'Asti is one of the lowest, at about 5–6% ABV. Brachetto d'Acqui and some German Rieslings are similarly light. Non-alcoholic wines go even lower, under 0.5%, because alcohol has been removed.
Often, but not always. Many of the lightest wines keep some grape sugar because fermentation was stopped early. Dry options include Vinho Verde, Txakoli, and Hunter Valley Semillon, which are low in alcohol because the grapes were picked early.
Most still wines fall between about 12% and 15% ABV. Light whites and cool-climate reds sit at the lower end, while ripe reds from warm regions, like Zinfandel and Shiraz, reach the higher end. Fortified wines go up to about 22%.
Usually, since alcohol provides most of a dry wine's calories. But sweet low-alcohol wines contain sugar, which adds calories back. A dry, light white such as Vinho Verde is typically one of the lowest-calorie choices.
Lambrusco and Brachetto d'Acqui are among the lightest reds, often under 11%. For still reds, look at cool-climate options like Beaujolais Gamay, Loire Cabernet Franc, and Austrian Zweigelt, which are lighter than most big reds.
It is a bit lighter than many still wines, typically around 11% ABV. That makes it a good moderate choice, though Moscato d'Asti, at about 5–6%, is much lower if you want a truly light sparkling wine.
