Wine on the Radio - June 25, 2003

Alcohol Content

Have you ever noticed how much variation there is alcohol level among different types of wine

It's important for a number of reasons:

•  It can help you anticipate the taste of a particular wine

•  Your selection for a particular time of day or season could be affected

•  It can help you remain a responsible wine drinker.

Here are some ways to tell:

First, always look at the label.   Alcohol content is required to be there as a percent of volume.   Most wines have between 11 and 14 percent.

Full bodied wines tend to be higher and light bodied wines lower.

Some whites and roses are even lower, making them good summertime or luncheon wines but if there's a hot finish or after taste, then the alcohol content is pretty high or out of whack for the wine.

Another sign of alcohol is how slowly the so called "legs" move when you swirl the wine in a glass.  In a dry wine, thicker and slower means more alcohol.

Pop the cork.™

But don't drink and drive.

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