The sweet truth: uncovering sugar in our wines.

In the last couple of years with the rise in popularity of ketogenic, low calories and other sugar free diets, we have noticed a shift in the way people choose their favourite “tipple”.  The market is now booming with websites offering wines that have low or no residual sugar or drinks that are sold as “healthier options” creating some sort of confusion and giving wine a bad reputation.

It is important to provide some technical clarifications to help customers selecting wines based on their preferred sugar level and flavour profile.

Does wine contain sugar? The simple answer is yes; a more complete answer is that wine contains what is known as “residual sugar”, which is the natural sugar left in the wine following the process of fermentation when yeast is added to break down the natural sugar in the grapes and transform it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The shorter the fermentation process, the sweeter the wine whereas a longer process resulting in a drier wine.  The residual sugar is measured in grams per litre (g/L) with wines ranging from bone dry (less than 0.6g/L) to dry (0-4g/L), off dry (4-12g/L), medium (12-45g/L) and sweet (more 45g/L).

There is a misconception that sugar can be added to wine to increase sweetness. The process of adding types of sugar to the grapes before fermentation is called Chaptalization and it is used to increase the alcohol content in grapes with low natural sugar rather than adding sweetness. Although this process is legal and regulated in some countries (Northern region of France, Austria and New Zealand, Oregon), many countries have banned its use (Australia, South Africa, Argentina, California, Italy, Portugal and Spain).

On the other hand, sugar is often added after the fermentation process during the production of sparkling wines to balance the acidic flavours of these wines. The sweetness level can be identified by specific denominations:

·         Brut  Nature - the drier style with no added sugar.

·         Extra Brut – dry with a very low sugar content, up to 6g/l.

·         Brut – with a sugar content between 6 and 15g/l.

·         Extra dry – despite the name, it has a sugar content between 12 and 20g/l.

·         Dry (or Sec) - sugar content is between 17 and 35g/l.

·         Demi-Sec – indicates dessert style wines, 33-35g/l

·         Doux – the sweetest sparkling in the market with over 50g/l.

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The most popular sparkling wines in our stores are mostly Brut or Extra Dry but if you prefer the sugar content to be under 6g/l, Black Chalk Classic from Hampshire contains 5.8g/l.  “Fresh, crips character...precise fruit focus...exceptional purity”. £38.99 each.

Since wineries are not required to provide the sugar levels present in their wines, here at The Naked Grape we have done the hard work for you; if you are a red, white or rose’ enthusiast we have put together a wonderful selection of incredible wines.

 With refreshing notes of gooseberries, green apples and white flowers and less than 1g/l of residual sugar, Whale Point Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect option if you are looking for a bone-dry white with elegant flavours. £10.50 each.

 Vegan Tor del Colle Pecorino is probably one of our customers’ favourites; with 2g/l, intense crisp tropical notes and perfect for pairing with a wide variety of dishes this has the perfect balance.  £14.99 each.

Snapper Rock from New Zealand offers a dry but not bone-dry Pinot Gris bursting with intense pear, citrus and honeysuckle but with less than 4g/l.  £14.50 each. 

Why not an English white? The Chardonnay Still by Hattingley Valley is described as having “A fine and rich mouthfeel that leads to a long, dry finish” (sugar content 1,53g/l). £22.99 each. 

As for Rose’ we showcase a wonderful selection of dry and delicate style, all of them present a relatively low sugar content.

Grande Courtade L’Istant from Languedoc is a perfect example of elegance and fruit ripeness, with just 1g/l of sugar; this rose’ is also organic and vegan. £15.35 each.

From the Mediterranean area Les Olivades is well loved by our customers not just for its crisp strawberry notes (3g/l) but also for its clean palate. £10.99 each.

If Provence is your only go-to, the sublime Costeval  (3g/l) offers iconic and refined characters typical of the Provence region. £16.99 each.

When choosing your red, we recommend opting for grapes that are generally considered to be producing drier wines: Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Organic and Vegan Arbol de Vida Tempranillo has no added sulphites and only traces of sugar with less than 1g/l.  These old vines red showcases intense plum, blackberries and complex spices. £14.50 each.

Il Caggio Chianti is an affordable yet pure example; made from a blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo grapes, it contains only 1g/l of residual sugar. This is a medium-bodied Chianti with ripe cherries, gentle floral notes and a complex earthiness. £12.99 each.

With a rich and full style, Pascual Toso Malbec is an incredible choice as its residual sugar content is around 1,8g/l ; perfect paired with grilled red meats and rich savoury or spicy dishes. £15.99 each.

If you are a Pinot Noir lover, we highly recommend trying the Californian Long Barn. It is one of the most popular and loved choices at our Wine Bar evenings. Despite the low residual sugar content of 3g/l, the light bramble fruits are well integrated with sweet spices resulting in a beautifully structured mouthfeel. £18.99 each.

Finally, it’s Cabernet Sauvignon!  With only 3g/l the Chilean Casa Silva and the Australian Killibinbin Seduction are two extraordinary examples, slightly different in tasting profile but they both showcase the grandeur of a good Cabernet.

Casa Silva £15.78 each.  Killibinbin Seduction £17.49 each. 

We are incredibly proud of our range of wines and we are delighted to offer our customers a diversity that suits every need without compromising the quality. Afterall “Life is too short to drink bad wine”.