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.
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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 keeping that it is not too alcoholic, while moving away from too light or thin, too alcoholic or warming and too sharp or lemony.
- You said you like that it is not too alcoholic and that it is too light or thin. Both are about alcohol, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like that it is not too alcoholic and that it is too alcoholic or warming. Both are about alcohol, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
Change the structure
Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter in alcohol.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter in alcohol.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Kisi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Rkatsiteli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Roero Arneis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Arneis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Champagne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Franciacorta
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Méthode Cap Classique
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
California traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Istrian Malvazija
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Vin de Constance
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Coteaux du Layon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Vin Santo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Sauternes
Sauternes scores closest to Low and no-alcohol wine across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
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.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter in alcohol.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Arneis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.
California Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Szamorodni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more aromatic.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Alsace Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Alsace Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more aromatic.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more aromatic.
Vin Jaune
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and stronger and warmer.
Chasselas
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Change the mood
Safer, stranger, cheaper or more serious.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.
Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
California Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and stronger and warmer.
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.