Winemakers understate alcohol levels on wine labels

New research in the United States has found that many wines are higher in alcohol than is claimed on the label and that errors were made consciously by some winemakers who admitted they deliberately choose to understate alcohol levels, within the tolerances permitted by law, in order to appeal to consumers' tastes for more intense, riper flavours and a bigger tasting wine. The study was carried out for the American Association of Wine Economists and was based on 90,000 samples of wine between 1992 and 2009. On average label claims understated the true alcohol content of Old World wines from traditional producers in Europe by 0.39 per cent and New World wines were often understated by an average of 0.45 per cent. Each extra percentage point of alcohol in a drink corresponds to an additional 0.8 units per bottle.

Gavin Partington of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said he did not recognise the description of drinking tastes in the UK and that the trend is towards lighter, refreshing drinks and away from the heavier styles.