No-alcohol or low-alcohol wine consumption is becoming increasingly popular around the world. In 2018, demand for no- or low-alcohol wines increased by 8%, while sales of beer and cider with less than 1.2 percent alcohol increased by over 30%. A growing number of clients, particularly young people aged 16 to 24, are looking for a high-quality wine-drinking experience that is free of alcohol. Low-alcohol wines appeal to young ladies in particular because of their attractiveness and health benefits. For large beverage firms, vintners, and merchants, this movement is generating a new market.
The Increasing Popularity of Low-Alcohol Wines
By 2024, the global market for non-alcoholic wine and beer is expected to increase at an astounding 7.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Low-alcohol wine sales are continue to be driven by healthy living and teetotalism, particularly among young individuals.
Wines designated as low-alcohol must have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of less than 13%. White wines have a low ABV of 12 percent or less, whereas red wines have a low ABV of 13 percent or less. ABV of less than 10% is considered very low. The alcohol concentration in younger, lighter wines like Rieslings, Rosés, and Vinho Verdes, as well as Champagne and sparkling wines, is typically lower. Meanwhile, fortified wines, such as port, have a high alcohol content.
Most wines with an alcohol content of less than 10% are light and sweet, making them ideal for a woman’s palate. German Kabinett Riesling, Italian Moscato d’Asti, and French Alsace Blanc are just a few examples. Less-sweet grapes like the French Muscadet, Italian Lambrusco, and Austrian Grüner Veltliner are used to make medium-low alcohol wines, which have an ABV of 10–11.5%.
The Search for Beauty and Well-Being
There are various purported advantages to drinking low-alcohol wine. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, it can reduce the risk of bowel, breast, or liver cancer by 7%. It can also help with headache relief and weight management. Because wine is high in antioxidants, which help to rebuild collagen and elastic fibers, it can help to prevent skin aging.
In China, where health and wellbeing are becoming increasingly important, people are switching to lower-alcohol-content beverages. Unlike the Bordeaux-style reds that have long dominated China’s wine business, Chinese female wine lovers are opting for lighter, sweeter, and fruitier wine varieties.
For vintners and retailers alike, this is a great potential. Companies are attracting female customers by advertising the health and aesthetic benefits of consuming low-alcohol wine, in addition to stressing how wine can be a part of their premium, sophisticated lifestyle.
Final Thoughts on the Increasing Popularity of Low-Alcohol Wines
Young female wine drinkers have become one of the most important demographic groups in the globe, not only in China. Overall, the non- and low-alcoholic wine sector has benefited and will continue to benefit from these consumers’ extraordinary shift in choice. To have a better chance of success, businesses must plan carefully and strategically to tap into this attractive market.
