Low Alcohol Wines, Angela Mount, Bath Magazine

Angela Mount in Bath Magazine 

With New Year resolutions still relatively fresh and firm, January is the month where gyms do their best business of the year and cupcake makers and wine merchants their worst! January is almost always the time that most of us address health issues and vow to exercise, and eat less but better. The same can apply to wine; a glass of a delicious, high quality, rewarding wine is far better than a bottle of something cheap, dilute and characterless that just happens to have been made from grapes.

Which brings me onto the subject of alcohol levels… how often do you look at the alcohol level on a bottle of wine? Alcohol levels in wine have been rising in recent years, particularly with the popularity of New world wines, where hotter climates, riper, sweeter grapes, lead to naturally higher alcohol levels.  And there are lots of pretty powerful wines out there now, with alcohol levels of 14.5 – 15%. Not everyone wants that full onslaught, and the impact of one glass of wine on the system, particularly not in January.

So this month, I’ve been searching out a range of wines, which have just as much fruit and character as their higher alcohol counterparts, but are all 12% Alcohol or under, with all 3 whites at a moderate 11%. Fresh, fruity, crisp whites, and soft, juicy reds, which will ease the January blues, and tick the boxes for less alcohol and also less calories!I would far rather enjoy one glass of any of these than resort to the raft of confected and generally fruitless lower alcohol wines on the supermarket shelves.

RUGGERI PROSECCO BRUT ARGEO - 11% - £12.50

The current darling of the sparkling wine world, Prosecco is generally slightly lighter in alcohol than many other fizzes. It’s from north east Italy, and was initially made famous as the sparkling wine that went into the legendary Venetian Bellinis. There are lots of cheap, bland Proseccos on the market, but this one is a delight, with gentle bubbles, a delicate fragrance and  a soft, creamy style. Dry, but with a lovely edge of candied lemon and peachy fruit.  Not just a great party drink, but a light, indulgent treat with seafood and fish.

LA CADENCE UGNI BLANC 2011 - 11% - £5.95

If you’re looking for a simple, fresh, fruity dry white, with an easy-drinking style, at only 11% alcohol,then this is the one. With citrus and pears on the nose, it’s a good all purpose white for January. Lots of baked apple, yellow plum, and lemony flavours abound, and it has a soft, gentle finish.  Great with chicken, pork chops with apple, grilled fish, and fruity salads.

BARDOLINO LE NOGARE, BERTANI 2011 - 12% - £9.95

This red cherry, herb and cardamom scented red, from North East Italy offers freshness, elegance and character. From its limpid cherry red colour to its fresh, vibrant style, it’s a class act from a great producer. Light in style, with low tannins,  full of plum and cherry fruit, it’s got a twist of thyme leaves, a hint of spice, and a savoury edge. A perfect, lighter style of red for pasta dishes, herb roasted chicken and even roast beef.

DOMAINE DE VISSOUX, BEAUJOLAIS CUVEE TRADITIONELLE - 12% - £11.30

A silky, scented, feminine, delicate, and sublimely elegant wine, an absolute dream;I fell in love with its gentle, ethereal qualities, and purity of fruit the moment I tasted it. For those of you who have rejected Beaujolais because of the nasty, thin, fruitless styles that we often see, trust me and try this one. Produced from old vines, it’s lovingly handcrafted, made with natural yeasts, and the quality shines through. Ripe red fruit aromas waft from the glass, and it is simply a beautiful, low tannin, gloriously stylish and entrancing red. Pair with gammon, roast chicken, ham salads, and lightly spiced Asian dishes.

VIA NOVA MERLOT 2011 - 12% -  £6.40

This is a great January warmer – it’s full of soft, plummy fruit, clove and cinnamon spice, with a smooth,velvety style; but with still only 12% alcohol, it has freshness, vibrancy, and rich, plum and blackberry fruit. From north east Italy, it’s a food friendly red, with all the smooth, plummy ripeness typical of Merlot, but because it’s from the cooler climate of northern Italy, it doesn’t have that heavy whack of alcohol. Deliciously juicy, with a hint of mocha, and a super smooth texture. This is the wine for winter stews, sausages, and steak and kidney or chicken pies. Will go pretty well with a plate of salami, parma ham and mature cheeses too!

JANUARY’S CHOICE

Wines to go with Stir fries and Asian fish dishes

REICHSRAT VON BUHL RIESLING TROCKEN 2011 - 11.3% - £11.50

My perfect wine for most spicy dishes. Don’t ignore German Riesling, it  produces some of the very best white wines in the world. This is a beautiful example of a dry Riesling, with aromas of honeysuckle and fresh lime, which lead to an explosion of tangy, passion fruit and fresh lime streaked fruit flavours. Incredible intensity and purity of fruit.