Moxie Vino

What is a good low alcohol wine?

The easiest low alcohol wines to find are Moscato d'Asti-style Moscatos (around 5% to 7%), German Riesling (around 8% to 9%) and Lambrusco (around 8%), compared with about 12% to 15% for most wine.

Most wine sits around 12% to 15% alcohol. Low alcohol wines land under about 10%, which means you can have a glass with lunch or a second one at a party and feel a lot less of it. The catch: nearly all naturally low alcohol wines are at least a little sweet.

Typical alcohol
About 5% to 10%, vs 12% to 15% for most wine
Main styles
Moscato, German Riesling, Lambrusco, Vinho Verde
Price range
About $7 to $15
Serve at
Cold
Check
The ABV (alcohol by volume) number on the label
Bodylight → big
Sweetnessdry → sweet
Zingsoft → zippy

Why low alcohol wine is usually sweet

Alcohol comes from yeast eating grape sugar. To end up with less alcohol, the winemaker stops fermentation early, which leaves sugar behind. That is why Moscato and German Riesling are both lighter in alcohol and sweeter.

A few dry styles come in naturally lower, like Vinho Verde from Portugal (often around 9% to 11%). Wines labelled "alcohol-removed" or "non-alcoholic" are a separate category, made by taking the alcohol out after fermentation.

How to find it on the shelf

Turn the bottle and find the ABV (alcohol by volume), which by law has to be on the label. Anything under 10% counts as lower alcohol; under 7% is very light.

Good places to look: Moscato and Asti, German Riesling marked Kabinett, Lambrusco, Vinho Verde, and the "sweet red" and "sweet white" shelves.

What to eat with it

The sweetness and acidity in these wines make them great with spicy food, brunch, fruit, and salty snacks. A cold Riesling with Thai takeout is one of the best easy pairings out there.

A note on alcohol and calories

Lower alcohol usually means fewer calories from alcohol, but sweet wines add some back from sugar, so the difference is smaller than you might think. Check the label, and if you are watching alcohol for health reasons, a doctor is the best person to ask.

Low alcohol wines worth buying

  • Stella Rosa Moscato

    about $13

    MoscatoGood buy

    About 5% alcohol, lightly fizzy and peachy. Very easy daytime sipping.

  • Bartenura Moscato

    about $14

    Moscato

    Also around 5%, in the recognizable blue bottle. Pear and tangerine, gently sparkling.

  • Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling

    about $13

    Riesling

    German Riesling at around 8.5%. Lightly sweet with crisp green apple, so it tastes fresh rather than sugary.

  • Riunite Lambrusco

    about $7

    LambruscoIt's fine

    A lower alcohol red at about 8%. Fizzy, sweet and best served icy.

  • Barefoot Moscato

    about $7

    MoscatoGood buy

    Around 9% and very cheap. Not the lightest here, but still well below a typical glass of red.

  • Stella Rosa Black

    about $13

    Brachetto blendGood buy

    The low alcohol pick for red drinkers, at around 5%. Sweet blackberry with soft bubbles.

Keep reading

Last checked 2026-10-04.