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 how light and easy it feels and that it is not too alcoholic, while moving away from too light or thin.
- 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 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.
Change the structure
Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and broader and softer.
Auslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Eiswein
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and less oaky.
Auslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Eiswein
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chardonnay
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.
Eiswein
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Pinot Gris
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Roero Arneis
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Treixadura
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Arneis
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
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 stronger and warmer.
Méthode Cap Classique
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
California traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Champagne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
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 stronger and warmer, and drier.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.
Istrian Malvazija
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Bical
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Eiswein
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.
Auslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and sweeter.
Canadian Icewine
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 rounder and creamier in texture, and broader and softer.
Auslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Eiswein
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
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 stronger and warmer, and drier.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
Szamorodni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Auslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and less oaky.
Eiswein
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Hárslevelű
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Auslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and less oaky.
Eiswein
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
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 stronger and warmer, and drier.
Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Tokaji Aszú
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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.