20 Best Low Alcohol Wines To Avoid Hangovers In 2023
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Ever drank too much and woke up feeling like you were hit by a truck? It's not fun. That is why we've compiled a list of low alcohol wines for those who hate hangovers.
These are the best, most affordable wines with less than12% ABV that taste amazing and won't have you regretting your choice the next day. Happy drinking!
Our Top Picks
| Best Overall - Vietti 'Cascinetta' Moscato d'Asti
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Best Value - Broadbent Vinho Verde
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Most Natural - Broc Cellars Valdiguié Nouveau
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Best Low Alcohol Wines Under 10% ABV
1. Braida Brachetto d'Acqui
This Brachetto is a dessert wine that presents itself in an almost translucent ruby red color. A quick whiff, and you'll be greeted by the scent of dried rose mixed with honey and strawberries, which is perfect for any palate!
This lower ABV wine pairs well with fruits and nuts due to its perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. It is most traditionally paired with cakes and pastries. And if you love chocolates , this is one of the alcoholic beverages in the world that perfectly matches it.
It makes an ideal after-dinner beverage with its slight fizziness and sweet finish. It has only a 5.5% alcohol level and some residual sugar that will leave a lasting and satisfying finish.
2. Pinard et Filles ‘Queer’
This beverage is a great rare find from a country like Canada. Pinard et Filles 'Queer' has an alcohol content just a little behind 10% and has this tangy blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir.
A 90-hour cold soak and 8 months of naturally fermented aging in 400L barrels created this delicate juice that was bottled unfined and unfiltered without any added sulfur.
This drink results in a harmonious acid-driven finish with its notes of rhubarb, sour cherries, white pepper, and earth. Sip this wine chilled with charcuterie boards or bistro-inspired French meals at home.
3. Domaine Renardat-Fache Bugey Cerdon
There's nothing like a glass of sparkling méthode ancestrale (pét-nat), especially if it comes from Bugey-Cerdon. The grapes are handpicked and pressed before being fermented in cold vats until they reach about 6% alcohol levels.
Occasional slight filtration is done to remove any active yeast that might be leftover after fermentation is complete. It finishes at around 7.5%-8% alcohol, which leaves plenty for residual sugar as well.
A light-bodied wine made from the traditional blend of Poulsard and Gamay, this sweet rosé oozes with flavors of wild strawberries, cherries, and aromatic Alpine spice. Serve chilled at your next brunch or party to create an ambiance that can't be beaten!
4. G.D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti 2018
This delectable low alcohol wine is a true Moscato d’Asti at its finest and is sure to make you want more.
Vajra wines are made from grapes that have been grown at the highest point in Comune di Barolo. Vajra’s vines grow on a high-elevation hillside called Bricco Delle Viole, giving their products an exceptional complexity unlike any other.
The fruit-filled aroma hits you first as the delicate bubbles froth out of this drink. The apricots, peaches, and exotic fruits blend to create a symphony on your palate with each sip. Having a mere 5.5% alcohol by volume makes it easy to enjoy all day long!
5. NV Broadbent Vinho Verde
This glass of wine is very refreshing and is perfect for many occasions. Verde means "green" in Portuguese and refers to the hints of lime color on its surface; this white wine is a favorite among many drinkers from Portugal.
You'll feel refreshed and revived after tasting this crisp white. With fresh floral aromas, green plant flavors, and an invigorating lime undertone - it's perfect for warm weather days!
This cool Portuguese beverage will be an excellent accompaniment to any seafood dish on your menu while also being delightful as an apéritif or paired with lunchtime meals of chicken salad sandwiches.
6. Vietti 'Cascinetta' Moscato d'Asti
This aromatic, cloud-like Moscato is crafted from organically-farmed fruit at the hands of one of Piedmont's most legendary producers. In its creation, they only used grapes from small vineyards located on Castiglione Tinella.
The Moscato d’Asti is a sparkling wine with the aromas of peaches, rose petals, and ginger. It has a sweetness and balanced acidity, which makes it delicate on the palate. At just 5.5% ABV, reaching for your second glass of wine will be no problem.
With notes of apricots, overripe pears, peach skin, honey, and other tropical fruits will leave your mouth wanting more.
7. NV Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorées FRV 100
Jean-Paul Brun is an excellent winemaker . This wine is made in Charnay, which is his home village. He used méthode ancestrale, in which the fruits are carefully hand-harvested and fermented until it reaches about 6% alcohol.
Upon the first sip, you'll find flavors of fresh cherries and raspberries as well as slight hints of sweetness. It makes for a light-bodied, lightly sparkling, mildly sweet, and low-ABV vin de soif, reminiscent of a Cerdon de Bugey.
This drink is the perfect summer refreshment for lounging in the garden or while watching the sunset over the ocean.
8. Maximin Grünhaus Riesling Kabinett Abtsberg 2018
Grunhaus’s Abtsberg Kabinett is a delicate and refined wine in limited production. Extra finesse and refinement are expected with blue slate soils, making it a cut above others.
This dry wine with fresh citrus and stone fruit notes has subtle floral tones, like the top note in perfume that fades quickly but leaves you wanting more. The bright acidity lends it its crackling energy while still allowing for evocatively sweeter flavors to linger on your tongue long after each sip.
It is definitely refreshing, with only 8.5% ABV. The tastes of green apple, citrus zest, white peach, and herbs combine freshly. This naturally delicious drink is an excellent choice for lighter foods like smoked salmon on bread or chicken breast with vegetables.
9. Brancott Estate Flight Song Pinot Grigio 2018
This New Zealand winery specializes in low alcohol wines that are 20% lower in calories. Their Pinot Grigio is pink-tinged and offers heady aromas closer to Alsace style than Italy, so it’s unique.
This lower ABV wine has a fabulous floral aroma, with hints of white fruit such as nashi pear and apple. The flavor is rich but balanced by crisp acidity that smoothens the finish. It pairs well with delicate to spicy dishes like seafood or salad, depending on your mood!
10. Giesen Pure Light Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Giesen wines are perfect for every occasion, and here's why! If you're looking for ways to reduce your alcohol intake, these best low alcohol wine options offer a delicious alternative. You can also enjoy Giesen's wine with no worries because it comes in an alcohol-free version too!
This wine is more than just a refreshing, lighter Sauvignon Blanc. It has layers of tropical fruit with its citrus base, and it's 25% lighter in alcohol for those who can't handle their booze well.
The Sauvignon blanc is delicate and complex with fresh herbal aromatics, hints of citrus notes, balanced by sweeter tropical flavors like passionfruit. Basil subtly balances this wine, creating an invigorating finish that's perfect for summer!
Best Low Alcohol Wine Under 12% ABV
11. Les Capriades 'Pet Sec' Chenin Blanc NV
A mineral-driven pet-nat from Pascal Potaire, "Les Capriades" is crafted entirely from Chenin Blanc with a slight touch of Cabernet Franc.
This lower-alcohol wine comes to us courtesy of one of France's most beloved natural winemakers . Pascal Potaire and Moses Gaddouche have been influential for some 15 years or so when they started their label.
This fizz is perfect for an apéro before dinner. The notes of green apple, tart citrus, and pear skin make it a flavorful delight to sip on when you're ready to kick off the evening with friends or family.
12. Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina
We know the name looks intimidating, but before you turn it down, believe us when we say that Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina (pronounced chalk-oh-lee-na) is one of the most refreshing and delicious white wines available.
The wines of Ameztoi have come to define a traditional style from Getaria. Their rosé txakolina and méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine are famous among those who enjoy this drink. This is because they offer something unique that other producers cannot provide with new methods alongside more traditionally-made bottles .
The Txakolina is low alcohol, crisp white with a natural spritzy style. Its refreshing surge of signature salty and briny notes make it the perfect complement to Getaria's exquisite seafood cuisine.
13. Aphros Ten 2018
Using biodynamic grapes, which are difficult to farm in humid climates, makes this white wine incredible. Picking the Loureiro grapes earlier than usual gives this lower alcohol bottle a bright and balanced flavor with minimal residual sugar.
This will increase in weight as the wine ages and surprise you with rich, rounded fruit flavor profiles. Its name comes from its lower alcohol content, sitting at 10%. Hence it’s called "Ten."
Its crisp yet sweet aftertaste leaves you feeling refreshed. The process to make it was to stop fermentation, creating that lighter flavor and acidity. The perfect appetizer before a meal, this white pairs well with any type of fish or other seafood. From sashimi to sushi and salads, this beverage is versatile enough for all occasions!
14. Domaine Glinavos 'Paleokerisio' Semi-Sparkling
This low alcohol wine is a particular type that revives the well-known traditional wines of Ioannina, which were produced by locals in the past.
It is unique and tastes like no other with its orangey and semi-dry notes. This drink is made with the native white grape variety Debina and small additions of red grapes Vlahiko. The slight natural carbonate gives this drink an edge that captures your taste buds while making all flavors shine through to perfection!
It is also the ideal companion for your spicy Indian dishes. Its sweetness makes it enjoyable while still having enough acidity to balance the richness of spices in these meals. You can taste baked apples and citrus peels on its palate, with hints of sweet spice throughout.
15. Weiser-Künstler Riesling
If you have any preconceived notions about Riesling, try this drink and have your mind blown. This off-dry, fruit-driven bottle from Weiser-Künstler is one of our top picks for low ABV sipping.
If you want to taste the best Mosel wines, then these drinks are a must - they're consistently among the top wines produced anywhere in this region. The carefully selected grapes come from prime steep vineyards with old ungrafted vines that produce a world-class bottle. Yet, it is sitting at an affordable price, so it's perfect for all crowds!
This low alcohol wine will make your taste buds feel like they've just been on a field trip! It has the familiar fruity notes of peaches and pears. Still, there are also earthy undertones that often come with aged wines.
Best enjoyed alongside ham or spicy foods, which complements this wine's complex flavors.
16. 2016 Avinyó Brut Cava Reserva
What makes Avinyó Cava one of the finest artisanal wine producers in the world is its respect for traditions, while at the same time keeping up through innovations and constant improvement to produce only the best.
Avinyó Reserva is truly an honest and transparent entry into the beloved traditional-method wines of Catalonia. For those looking for a sparkling wine that is perfect for every day, look no further than this delicious and unpretentious bubbly.
The family estate behind the winery takes pride in its operation by ensuring it's as authentic as possible while also giving out one of the most friendly atmospheres you'll find anywhere.
17. Broc Cellars Valdiguié Nouveau
Broc Cellars Valdiguié is a great drink to start off with Nouveau wines. From its name, Nouveau bottlings imply that it is vinified and bottled in the same year the fruit was harvested, making the aging time very short. It then results in a youthful wine that just screams to be enjoyed immediately with just the slight chill present.
Using sustainable, organic , biodynamic practices in more challenging climates creates a unique wine experience for consumers.
Broc Cellars' Valdiguié is a delicately sweet wine that will make you think of strawberries, cranberries, and red fruits. If you want something nice to accompany your next Netflix binge session, Broc's fruit-forward wines are just what you need!
18. 2015 Keep Wines Albarino
You wouldn't expect a wine from California to boast a low alcohol content, yet this one produced in the Sacramento River Delta only has 11% ABV. This white wine offers an enjoyable salty and mineral flavor to make it interesting.
A deep history of winemaking can be found at this vineyard, where the land lay below sea level. With a unique minerality from being submerged in water for so long, these grapes are sure to produce an unforgettable vintage.
The perfect blend of subtle richness combined with citrus flower and honey notes, this unfined wine is aged 18 months in neutral oak barrels before release.
19. Nathan K Pinot Noir
Pinot lovers who are tired of their usual wine selections should be on the lookout for Finger Lakes Pinots.
Nathan Kendall is one of the region's most respected winemakers who promises that you'll be thirsty for more after trying this drink which has a lower alcohol content than other wines with similar flavor profiles in this style.
This beverage is aged for one year on its barrels to give its flavor complexity and depth that will leave you feeling refreshed after every gulp. The first thing you'll notice when opening a bottle of this wine is the intense aroma. Cherries, strawberries, and red plums will fill your nose with their sweet scents as soon as it's uncorke d.
20. Niepoort Nat Cool Tinto
Produced by the legend of Portuguese wine, Dirk Niepoort, this varietal Baga wine is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary drinks around.
It imparts the uniqueness of the Baga grape superbly while being very easy to consume thanks to its minerality that reminds you so much about what makes this region stand out: calcareous soils from an Atlantic cool climate with all their weather conditions.
This versatility gives it many food pairing possibilities such as seafood dishes or lighter meats like chicken and leaves you wanting more – just add another great meal!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this list of the best low alcohol wines and that it helps you hangover-free during drinking sessions. Do you know other low alcohol content wines that should be included on this list? Let us know in the comment section.