Consumers Prefer Low-Alcohol Wines

A study from Wine Intelligence found that participants preferred wines with lower alcohol content, according to Decanter.

The study, which polled 1,000 wine drinkers from the United States, the U.K., China, and Germany, found that 22 percent from Britain preferred wines at 10.5 percent alcohol by volume or less, with Germany and the United States stating similar numbers.

The younger generation has the greatest desire for low-alcohol wines, Decanter reporter Adam Lechmere writes. This could be a link to the growing popularity of moscato with the younger crowd as of late.

The poll also found that respondents from all four countries consider grape variety the most important factor when purchasing wine, and that the United States and China share the same favorite red and white grape varieties, being cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, respectively.

From Decanter: 
"The preference for lower alcohol is most marked in the younger generation. In China the survey found that women, and those aged 18 to 39, were more likely to say their preferred level of alcohol was 5.5 to 8%. A similar demographic was found in Britain."

— Wayne Stainrook, Snooth