11 Lower Alcohol Wine Recommendations
We're halfway through January, which means I'm also halfway through Damp January!
What's Damp January? It's my effort to scale back just a little bit from wine after the holidays (without fully partaking in Dry January).
How am I celebrating? Trying not to drink most nights of the week — and when I do, choosing wines that have lower ABV than others.
Regardless of whether you have chosen to imbibe or not imbibe this month, I wanted to pop in to share some regions and (and wine recommendations) that — generally speaking — produce some exceptional lower ABV wines.
How? These are cooler climate growing regions, which means that grapes have a harder time ripening in these regions. So during harvest, there's less grape sugars in the grapes to convert into alcohol during fermentation. The result? A lower alcohol wine that's full of beautiful acidity, making it a great every day sipper and food friendly wine.
So, without further ado, here are 11 regions around the world — plus their lower alcohol wine recommendations — to explore during Damp January... or year-round!
Northern France: Specifically Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris from Alsace are incredibly elegant and age-worthy.
Northern Italy: Looking for an easy sipper? Gavi (made from the Cortese grape) from the Piedmont region may be your new best friend.
Northern Greece: While this isn't classified as a low alcohol red varietal, Xinomavro (full of tannins and acidity!) from the Naoussa region is a stunning alternative to beefy Cabernet Sauvignon next time you grill a steak.
Austria: I love the approachable and herbaceous Gruner Veltliner wines coming out of this country.
Germany: Riesling is king here. And if you're really looking for a low alcohol wine, try the off-dry to sweet-style Rieslings from Germany.
Hungary: If you haven't tried a dry or sweet style Tokaj yet, you're missing out!
New Zealand: Marlborough is a region worth checking out if you're looking for a zingy Sauvignon Blanc... so delicious!
South Africa: Constantia and Walker Bay are the traditionally-regarded cooler climate regions in South Africa, famous for white varietals including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chile: Don't miss the Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Merlot from the cool and coastal Casablanca Valley.
Oregon: My stomping grounds (I live in Portland, OR) and great for cooler-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley.
New York: It's on my "wine bucket list" to explore Ice Wine from the Finger Lakes AVA!
Let me know if I should add any wine regions to this wine recommendation list for Damp January.