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 and how light and easy it feels, while moving away from too light or thin and too alcoholic or warming.
- You said you like how light and easy it feels and that it is too light or thin. Both are about body, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like how light and easy it feels 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 how light and easy it feels 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.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Szamorodni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fresher and more acidic.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and fresher and more acidic.
Szamorodni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Rkatsiteli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more oaky.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.
Rheingau Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Roero Arneis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Arneis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Franciacorta
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more sparkling.
Méthode Cap Classique
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more sparkling.
California traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more sparkling.
Champagne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more sparkling.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Istrian Malvazija
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Verdicchio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.
Auslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Sauternes
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
Vin de Constance
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
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 lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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 drier, and less oaky.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Szamorodni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more savoury.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more aromatic.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Torrontés
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Silvaner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more herbal and green.
Pinot Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Kerner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Franken Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Silvaner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more herbal and green.
Savennières
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Auslese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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 drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.
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.