White Wine Alcohol Content: Best Bottles From Lowest to Highest ABV

What might be the alcohol content in your glass of Riesling or Chardonnay white wine? 

White wine has an average alcohol content of 10%. But, it can range from as low as 8% to as high as 20%.

So, whether you prefer a light fruity tipple or a high alcohol wine, you’re sure to find a bottle to suit your taste and preferred ABV. 

Explore some of the best wines by ABV, and their alcohol content.   Also, explore some great food pairings, how the alcohol content of white wine is determined, and whether white or red wine has a higher alcohol content.

White Wine Styles and Their Alcohol Content (Including Best Wine Suggestions and Prices)

Here’s a breakdown of the alcohol content in the most popular white wine styles and the best wines for each category.  

1. White Wines with Low Alcohol Content

Best low alcohol white wine bottles:

• Bisol Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG, Veneto, Italy, 2013 ($56)
• Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel, Germany, 2018 ($19,157)
• Mondoro Asti Spumante DOCG, Piedmont, Italy, NV ($15)

2. White Wines with Low to Medium Alcohol Content

Best low to medium alcohol white wine bottles:

• Michel Delhommeau Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Clos Armand Vieillevigne, Loire, France 2011 ($30)
• Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2015 ($49)
• Broglia 'Vecchia Annata', Gavi DOCG, Italy,  2009 ($150)

3. White Wines With Medium Alcohol Content

Best medium alcohol white wine bottles:

• Dom Perignon P3 Plenitude Brut, Champagne, France 1982 ($4,023)
• Agusti Torello Mata Kripta Gran Reserva Cava, Catalonia, Spain 2006 ($84)
• Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy 2012 ($48)

4. White Wines With Medium to High Alcohol Content

Best medium to high alcohol white wine bottles:

• Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc, Oakville, USA 2012 ($7,447)
• Chateau Climens, Sauternes - Barsac, France 2009 ($116)
• Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, France 1847 ($110,463)

5. White Wines With High Alcohol Content

Best high alcohol content white wine bottles:

• J. Vidal-Fleury Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Reserve, Rhone, France 2015 ($34)
• William Hinton Lisbon Fortified Wine Cask Aged Single Cask Rum, Madeira, Portugal NV ($85)
• Sherry Cream Fl Jerez White Sweet William Humbert Andalucia Spain NV ($20.66)

Note: These percentages are only guidelines, so before you pop open a bottle of delicious white wine, check the ABV on the wine label to confirm the exact alcohol level.

Food Pairings Based on White Wine Alcohol Content

Here are a few mouth-watering food pairings that you could serve with your favorite white wine based on its ABV.

1. Low Alcohol Content White Wine Pairings

These lower alcohol wines are usually light, crisp, and sweet due to their higher residual sugar content. This makes them the ideal accompaniment to salty dishes like nachos and buffalo wings.

So, why not skip the beer and opt for a low alcohol wine for your next get-together?  

2. Medium Alcohol White Wine Pairings

You’re sure to find a delicious table wine under this category, and with many options available, it’s best to pair on a case-by-case basis.

For example, a full-bodied, medium ABV wine like Chardonnay pairs well with pork, poultry, and shellfish. And a fizzy Champagne or Prosecco perfectly balance salty food and savory pasta dishes.

3. High Alcohol White Wine Pairings

Higher alcohol content wine pairs marvelously with meaty dishes, like roasted game. 

If you’re looking for a sublime wine to end a meal, the sweetness of a fortified dessert wine may do the trick. Pair an exquisite sweet wine like a Spanish Sherry with a decadent chocolate cake, or enjoy this high alcohol content wine as a dessert on its own. 

How is the Alcohol Content of White Wine Determined?

Like any wine, the alcohol percentage of white wine is determined by the: 

• Grape sugar: The amount of sugar present in the grape can directly affect the wine’s alcohol content. The sweeter grape varieties produce more sugary grape juice. The more sugar is converted into alcohol during winemaking, the higher the alcohol content will be.

• Fermentation process: The winemaker can directly regulate the alcohol content of the wine. He can stop the fermentation process earlier to create a less alcoholic wine or prolong it and create higher alcohol wines.

Does White Wine or Red Wine Have Higher Alcohol Content? 

White wine has a lower alcohol content than red wine. 

That’s because red wines (like Cabernet Sauvignon, Italian Amarone, and Pinot Noir) are usually made with riper grapes (which contain more sugar) and this results in a higher alcohol content. 

Additionally, red wines have a fuller body and higher acidity and tannin levels. So, the winemaker may increase the alcohol content to get a wine with a more balanced body and flavor profile. 

‘Tis Time To Savor An Exquisite White Wine!

White wines come in an astonishing variety of flavors, aromas, and alcohol levels - from delicate, light Riesling wines to intense, sweet wine bottles like Moscato. So, pick your favorite and enjoy it over dinner or casual gatherings with friends and family.

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