Diet-conscious drinkers
Watching your weight? Try these wine styles
Winsor Dobbin
Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigley Moscato
Diet-conscious Australians are driving a new trend towards lower-alcohol wines, which are soaring in popularity this summer.
Weight Watchers this week officially endorsed a wine range for the first time – the newly launched low-alcohol Balance range from Hunter Valley family winery McWilliam’s, while another low-alcohol wine, the Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato, has been named official Australia Day Wine of the Year for 2010.
Consumer research conducted by McWilliam’s found many wine drinkers want lighter, more refreshing styles of wine that better align to their lifestyle.
The McWilliam’s Balance range has just 8.5% alcohol, being 1/3 lower in alcohol and 1/3 lower in kilojoules than a standard bottle. One glass has a Weight Watchers points value of one, as is highlighted on the label, and also equals exactly one standard drink.
“We’re really pleased to have this endorsement,” said McWilliam’s winemaker Jim Brayne. “It’s fulfilling to know that we’re giving a lower kilojoule and lower-alcohol option to people who like to enjoy a glass of wine. This is about making dining out and entertaining a lot easier.”
Accredited practising dietitian and Weight Watchers advisor Emma Stirling said being able to still enjoy the foods [and wines] you love, while losing weight, is a key platform of the Weight Watchers program.
The new Balance range comprises a Semillon sauvignon blanc and shiraz with recommended retail prices of $16.99.
The Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato, which has just 9 per cent alcohol as against 15-16 per cent for big South Australian reds, is the first moscato to be named the official Australia Day wine.
The new brand was only launched last year and sells for $12.99. “Sales have far exceeded our expectations – there is a real curve among consumers to lighter, lower-alcohol wines,” said Jacob’s Creek PR spokesman Jeanine Bribosia.
Industry figures show that the lower-alcohol table wine category has almost doubled in size in the last 12 months and continues to grow strongly.
Peter Nixon, national fine wine manager for Dan Murphy’s has noticed a surge in sales of “light sparkling wines such as local and imported moscato”.
Brown Brothers Zibibbo has been a major success in this category, alongside moscatos like Wirra Wirra’s Mrs Wigley and Innocent Bystander.
Central Victorian winery Mitchelton recently added a low-alcohol moscato to its Preece range in a bid to capture the growing health-conscious section of the market.
The Preece 2009 Lighter In Alcohol Moscato (RRP $15.99) has just 6 per cent alcohol by volume. “While alcohol does contribute to mouthfeel, aroma and flavour impression, lower alcohol levels will expose and highlight the purity of fruit as well as the crisp acidity and freshness in the mouth,” said winemaker Ben Haines.
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