Invention Vineyards Offers Lower Alcohol Wines for More Mindful and Healthier Wine Drinking
Recent wine industry surveys indicated that many wine consumers have been shying away from buying wine, particularly younger and older drinkers. However, both groups also indicated that when they purchase wine they are looking for lower alcohol wines. The reason cited is that this allows for more mindful and healthier wine drinking. In the modern world where wine sales are generally lagging these days, many wineries are making an effort to offer lower-alcohol alternatives in response to these requests. As you will read below, there are some nice lower-alcohol wines alternatives from Innovation Vineyards located in the rapidly growing wine region of the Texas Hill Country.
Invention Vineyards Responds with Lower Alcohol Wines
Invention Vineyards, one of the largest vineyards in the Texas Hill Country, offers several exceptional wines with an ABV (Alcohol by Volume) of 13.5% or lower for those wanting less alcohol, less sugar, and less calories without sacrificing quality. I recently had the opportunity to rate two of there offerings and here is what I found.
How Did Our Table Wines End Up With Such High Alcohol?
Some of you may remember back before the turn of the millennium when typical table wines were made with 11.5 to 13.5% ABV (alcohol by volume). Well, then came influential wine critic Robert Parker and his “Parkerized Wines“, the term referring to the global trend he promoted in his wine reviews.
It has been said that Parker tended to give the highest scores to wines from wineries that produced riper, fruitier, higher alcohol, lower acid, and generally oakier wines. From this point on, the alcohol of table wines in the marketplace stepped up to 14%, 14.5%, 15%, and sometimes beyond. I see West Coast Pinot Noir that can up to 15.5% ABV (click here), and say… “This can’t be right!” The world of wine has changed, but many argued, not for the better.
Invention Vineyards 2023 Viognier (11.9% ABV)
Invention Vineyards 2023 Viognier is one of Invention Vineyards’ lowest ABV offerings that comes in at a very sensible 11.9%. Many know Viognier’s reputation as “a red wine drinker’s white wine” and a tendency to be made with alcohol contents with an “in-your-face” 14.5 to 15.5%. However, this Viognier has a sensible ABV of 11.9% and presents a medium body and a lighter and classic style but is still highlighted with plush citrus, mango and a perfume of honeysuckle, and most notably, a lingering finish.
In a recent public blind tasting I held in Atlanta, the Invention Vineyards 2023 Viognier drew a rating of 90/100. At $39 ($33 for winery members), it was a real pleaser for a range of people, even some that said they were not “into” Viognier.
Invention Vineyards Captivating (12.6% ABV). The Invention Vineyards 2023 Captivating ($39, $33 for members) is a silky Bordeaux-style white wine from the Texas High Plains. It is white wine with notes of citrus, green herbs, and white peach. This blend is predominately Sauvignon Blanc blended with Viognier yielding an accessible ABV of 12.6%. Like in white Bordeaux wines (a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon), Viognier add body and a silkiness to this wine. Personally, I am a fan of white Bordeaux-style wines, as they are very approachable, more so than the very fruity Sauvignon Blanca from New Zealand or the extremely dry acidic wines from Sancerre (France) This white wine scores because it is a good sipper alone and is also very food-friendly. My score: 88/100 – I’m proud to pour this wine for friends.
Other Low Alcohol Offerings from Invention Vineyards
2024 Imaginada ($39, $33 for members) is a blend of Albariño, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Trebbiano at 12.6% ABV.
2021 Tempranillo ($54, $46 for members) is described with an inviting garnet color and a made-for-food ABV of 13.0%.
2022 Conflation ($54, $46 for members) is a Rhône-style blend is Mourvèdre and Syrah with an ABV of 13.0%.
The Bottom Line – Lower Alcohol is a Win-Win-Win Wine Proposition
Lower alcohol wines can present “wins” for multiple sectors of the wine industry. For grape growers, it allows them to harvest earlier rather than suffer the risks of late season disease and freeze from longer hang time on the vine to boost sugar content. For winemakers, the earlier harvesting usually brings more natural acidity to the wines, making them more stable and vibrant on the palate. Obviously, for consumers, these wines offer wine enjoyment with less of the haze of excessive alcohol that many wines now bring.
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