Strategies for reducing alcohol concentration in wine

Extending the time before harvest—and therefore increasing grape maturity—enhances ripe fruit wine flavours and wine colour intensity, and also decreases unripe green and vegetal wine flavours. Greater maturity, however, increases sugar concentration, which in turn leads to wines with elevated ethanol concentration. High ethanol concentration can reduce the complexity of a wine by suppressing aroma intensity, while also increasing the perception of ‘hotness’ and ‘bitterness’. In addition, health and economic considerations combined with market demand have the wine industry actively seeking ways to facilitate the production of wines with lower alcohol concentration. This review summarises the latest research aimed at reducing wine alcohol concentration, including viticultural practices, pre-fermentation and winemaking practices, microbiological strategies, and post-fermentation approaches and processing technologies. The effect of these practices on wine flavour is also discussed.