If you like this, try…
Wines like Low and no-alcohol wine
Wine with alcohol removed after fermentation, or made deliberately light — a fast-growing adjacent category with its own technical constraints. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Low and no-alcohol wine?
Optional — the results below already work without it. But “I like Malbec” is at least four different preferences wearing one name, and saying which one you mean changes the answer substantially. Only qualities this wine actually has are offered.
What these words mean
- The citrus and orchard fruit
- Lemon, lime, green apple, pear. The signature of a cool-climate white — quieter and less perfumed than tropical fruit, and a different thing from the acidity it usually travels with.
- The tropical fruit
- Passionfruit, mango, pineapple, guava. It comes from riper fruit and warmer sites, and it is the difference between Marlborough and Sancerre in the same grape.
- That it is not too strong
- Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
- How light it is
- A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
- The touch of sweetness
- Actual sugar left in the wine, which is a different thing from tasting fruity. A wine can smell of ripe peach and be completely dry.
Looking for something moving away from too sharp or lemony.
Change the structure
Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Amontillado sherry
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Palo Cortado
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Oloroso sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more neutral and subtle.
Müller-Thurgau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fruitier.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Glera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.
Asti
Asti scores closest to Low and no-alcohol wine across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Champagne
Champagne scores closest to Low and no-alcohol wine across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.
Franciacorta
Franciacorta scores closest to Low and no-alcohol wine across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Amontillado sherry
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Oloroso sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Vin Santo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Vin de Constance
Vin de Constance scores closest to Low and no-alcohol wine across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Moscatel de Setúbal
Moscatel de Setúbal scores closest to Low and no-alcohol wine across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Vinsanto (Santorini)
Vinsanto (Santorini) scores closest to Low and no-alcohol wine across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but less oaky
One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more neutral and subtle.
Müller-Thurgau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fruitier.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Oloroso sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Solaris
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Ortega
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Each suggestion is scored across sixteen taste dimensions, weighted so that structure matters more than flavour, and adjusted for whether the wine actually moves in the direction you asked for. Curated links from an editor carry extra weight — but only when the editor tagged them for this direction. Nothing here is a black box; see the taste model for the full method.