It’s a little known fact that the world’s largest wine producer, E. J.Gallo, built their empire off the success of their white wine called Thunderbird. The wine was originally designed to appeal to a young market and has now garnered cult status as a “bum wine.” Why was Thunderbird such a success? Well, simply put it has 20% alcohol by volume (ABV). Let’s take a look at alcohol levels are in wine from the lightest to the strongest. Truth be told, alcohol content in wine ranges wildly from as low as 5.5% to 23% ABV. There are several factors that affect the alcohol content of wine including the style of wine, quality level, and climate where the grapes grow. The rule of thumb is that a glass of wine is worth one standard drink and women get one of these a night and men get two. However, this makes the assumption that the wine is only 12% ABV. So if you’re drinking a high-alcohol wine like Port or Thunderbird (at 20% ABV), the recommended serving size is about half.

Yep, sometimes it’s better to get a lower alcohol wine, especially if you love to drink. You can drink more light-alcohol wine with the same effect as one glass of high-alcohol wine. Under the 10% ABV level, most wines will be light in body and sweet. German Kabinett Riesling (at 8% ABV) and Italian Moscato d’Asti (at 5.5% ABV) are typical examples of light-alcohol wines. The reason why these wines tend to be sweet is from the leftover grape sugar in the wine after the desired alcohol-level is reached. Leftover sweetness in wine is called residual sugar (RS) and comes from the sweetness of grapes at harvest time. Wines ranging from 10–11.5% ABV are usually produced when less-sweet grapes are used to make wine. It’s pretty common to see white wines with medium-low alcohol from cooler climate regions like France, Northern Italy and Germany. There are also several sparkling wines in this alcohol content category because the wine producers pick the grapes a little earlier in the season to insure that the wines stay zesty with higher acidity to compliment the bubbles.

If you live in the US, you might believe that these numbers seem a little low, but for the rest of the world 11.5%–13.5% ABV is the average. In fact, the US standard serving of wine is a glass (5 oz) of medium alcohol-content wine. Most European wines will be in this range, as well as dry American bargain wines. This is the average range of dry American wines and other warm climate growing regions including Argentina, Australia, Spain and Southern Italy. Regions with warmer climates will produce sweeter grapes which in turn increases the potential alcohol content of the wine. High alcohol wines are made one of two possible ways: naturally or with fortification. Fortified wine is when a neutral spirit (usually a distilled grape brandy) is added to wine to increase the alcohol content. The original purpose for fortifying wine was to preserve the flavor of wines during the age of exploration. High alcohol dessert wines like Port, Marsala, Madeira and Sherry are commonly fortified and so are aromatized wines (aka vermouth).

It’s more rare to find a natural high alcohol wine, but they do exist, thanks to science! The reason why wine has become naturally higher in alcohol has a lot to do with science. Back in the 1950’s the yeast would not survive in alcohol levels too much higher than 13.5% ABV. buy harry potter wine glassIn fact, it was common to get a “stuck fermentation” where yeasts would die before all the sugar in the grape juice had been converted into alcohol (This is how white zin was invented!). best way to save a bottle of wineToday however, we’ve developed very resilient yeasts that can survive in alcohol levels as high as 16.5% ABV.best arizona red wineList of the best alcohol free red wine available on the market, as ranked by red wine lovers and critics. wine and beer festival 2016

Indulging in a glass of red wine every night is said to be one of the best ways to improve your heart.Multiple medical studies have proven that red wine lowers your blood pressure and improves your heart health. Unfortunately, most red wines can also have the negative effects of alcohol on your body including the loss of the brain cells.wine in india 2014That’s why non-alcoholic red wine is so amazing. best wine cooler drinksThe health benefits of regular red wine are still in this type of wine, but without any of the negative side effects. Just one glass of the alcohol free red wines on this list may be enough to relax you after a hard day, without worrying about going to work the next morning with a pounding headache and other hangover side effects.The wines on this list are highly rated and come from brands that honor the no-alcohol content of their wines, while still offering a quality product. 

What are the best non-alcoholic red wines? This list features the top wine brands, like Sutter Home and Ariel, available that offer alcohol free options. If your favorite non-alcoholic wine isn't on the list of alcohol free red wines. 1 + - 2 + - 3 + - 4 + - 5 + - 6 + - 7 + - 8 + - 9 + - 10 + - 11 + - 12 + - 13 + - 14 + - 15 + - 16 + - 17 + - 18 + - 19 + - Filed Under: Most Voted wine + prev list more popular lists next list -Tips from The Kitchn The Best Non-Alcoholic Substitutes for Red & White Wine If you're cooking dinner and realize you don't have the wine on hand that your recipe calls for, don't throw in the towel just yet. It's easy to make a quick substitution with something you probably have in the kitchen. It's useful to think about the function of wine in the recipe. Sometimes wine is incorporated to add acidity, sugar, depth of flavor, or brightness to a dish. Other times its purpose is to provide moisture, tenderize meat, or to deglaze a pan. Knowing, or even taking a guess, is helpful in choosing a good substitute.

Here are a few guidelines, but we encourage you to experiment and get a feel for your particular ingredients and tastes. Use These Substitutes for Red Wine Red wine vinegar - The acidity in vinegar makes it a good substitute for deglazing the pan. Grape, pomegranate, or cranberry juice - These rich-flavored juices are also acidic which makes them a good substitute for deglazing a pan. Their deep fruit and berry flavors will also add depth of flavor to a recipe. For a punchier substitute, try mixing a tablespoon of vinegar per cup of juice. Chicken, beef, or vegetable stock - Even though it's less acidic, and more mild in flavor than red wine, stock is an ideal candidate for adding flavor to a dish. For extra flavor, try mixing a tablespoon of vinegar per cup of stock. Use These Substitutes for White Wine White wine vinegar - This is an ideal substitute for dry white wine, especially when its purpose is to deglaze a pan. Made from white wine, white wine vinegar has many of the same flavor characteristics, minus the alcohol.