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.”
Though there’s some variation between the different types, Moscato generally has a pretty low alcohol content, hovering around 5-7%. As a point of reference, most red wines have an alcohol content of about 10-12% ABV.
The Lightest to the Strongest 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.
- Moscato d’Asti 5.5% ABV (lightly sparkling sweet white from Italy)
- Brachetto d’Acqui 6.5% ABV (lightly sparkling sweet red from Italy)
- Kabinett Riesling 8% ABV (light sweet German Riesling)
- Spätlese Riesling 8.5% ABV (rich sweet German Riesling)
- Alsace Blanc 9%–10% ABV (France)
- Muscadet 9.5% ABV (France)
NOTE: Looking for low alcohol, low calorie dry wines? Read this
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.
- Muscadet (France)
- Touraine and Cheverny (Sauvignon Blanc from Loire, France)
- Lambrusco (Italy)
- Soave (Italy)
- Gavi (an Italian wine region that produces white wines with Cortese grapes.)
- Pinot Grigio (Italy)
- Grüner Veltliner (Austria)
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 American bargain wines.
TIP: The higher the alcohol, the bolder and richer the wine will taste.
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!
TIP: A wine that is described as “hot” means it has high alcohol content..
Drinking Wine Every Day Does This To Your Body
FAQ
Is Moscato a strong alcohol?
How drunk does Moscato get you?
Are all Moscatos low alcohol?
What is the alcohol level of moscato wine?
The alcohol level of Moscato wine can range from 5.5% to 12% ABV. In summary, Moscato wine is known for its sweet flavor and low alcohol content. Its alcohol content is typically measured by ABV, and it’s important to check the label of the wine to determine its alcohol content.
What is moscato wine?
Moscato wine is a sweet, low-alcohol wine that is gaining popularity among wine enthusiasts. The alcohol content of Moscato wine is one of its defining characteristics, as it is generally lower than that of other wines. The range of alcohol content in Moscato wine can vary, but it typically falls between 5.5% and 12% ABV.
Does moscato wine have sugar?
Some winemakers will age the wine for a longer period of time, which can reduce the sugar content of the wine. The sugar content of Moscato wine can also be affected by the addition of other ingredients, such as fruit juices or syrups. These ingredients can increase the sweetness of the wine, as well as the sugar content.
What is the difference between Moscato and beer?
Moscato, with an alcohol content ranging from 5% to 10%, is a lighter option for those who prefer a sweet wine. Compared to beer, Moscato has a lower alcohol content. Beer typically has an alcohol content of around 4% to 6%. Champagne, a popular sparkling wine, has an alcohol content of around 12%.