Low-alcohol wines to try

Best low-alcohol wines in Australia

The start of a new year always brings thoughts of resets and good intents. But with the sun shining and the social events filling up your calendar, it can be hard to say no to a refreshing glass of wine. So instead of cutting it out completely, how about choosing a lighter (but still delicious) wine?

This approach might not be new to you. After all, drinking preferences and attitudes towards booze are changing, with moderation and brighter, fresher styles on the agenda for many no matter the time of year. The trajectory that average wine alcohol levels have taken in Australia is interesting to note, peaking in the Parker Era (with influential US wine critic Robert Parker having a taste for full-throttled reds), now we're seeing more modest averages of around 13–14 per cent.

When considering the best low alcohol wine to buy, there are varieties and styles lower in alcohol, such as riesling, semillon, some sparkling wine, sweeter wines like moscato, and delicate reds like gamay.

Ahead, find a slew of loweralcohol wines to try. Each is between 5.5 and 10.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) – all are flavoursome and ideal for long, hot afternoons, or for when you just want something light and fresh.

Try the NV Prosecco from Risky Business, it has an ABV of 10 per cent, which has been rated 95 points and is outstanding value at $25. Riesling fans (or freaks), the Rieslingfreak 2024 No.2 Riesling has an ABV of 10.3 per cent. Briar Ridge Vineyard's Black Cluster Single Vineyard Semillon has an ABV of 10.4 per cent, while Balancing Heart's 2023 Botany & Synergy Pinot Grigio has 10.5 per cent alcohol.

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Through Introduction to Wine, students will learn about Australian wine and wine regions, how wine is made, how to taste and describe wine, how to approach food and wine matches, along with handy tips that address common wine questions. And in part one of our Wines of the World course, discover and explore the iconic wines, regions and laws of France, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Germany and Austria.

Image credit: Rieslingfreak/Dragan Radocaj.