🎄 Shop early! We are closed Christmas Day. 🎄
Gone are the days when the most popular drinks contain heavy, sugary syrups and mixers. The average consumer is increasingly more conscious of what ingredients they are putting in their body. One ingredient in particular is being targeted for elimination: sugar.
PSA: Just because you’ve decided to cut back on sugar doesn’t mean you need to cut back on your favorite drinks.
Whether you’re going low sugar or no sugar, there are wines, spirits and cocktails out there that will fit into your lifestyle changes. No need to go cold turkey on your evening glass of wine or weekend cocktail.
Keep reading for how to reduce your sugar intake if you’re a wine drinker or cocktail lover, plus explore a selection of low to no sugar, expert-recommended wines, spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails.
When choosing a bottle of wine, keep in mind that higher ABV (alcohol by volume) will directly translate into higher sugar levels. If you're looking for a wine that’s lower in sugar, go for one that has an ABV of 13.5% or less on the label.
Also, stay away from “sweet” wines. While this is more of a rule-of-thumb than a golden rule, avoid wines that have the following words on their labels: dessert, dolce, port, ice, spatlese, moscato and demi-sec.
Here are a few delicious wines to try when you’re reducing your sugar intake.
Vignobles Bulliat Crémant de Bourgogne is labelled as “brut nature,” meaning it contains no added sugar. This sparkling wine is made of 100% chardonnay grapes that are hand-picked at an early stage and made by the méthode traditionnelle to produce extremely fine bubbles. If you are looking for a wine with no added sugar, add this sparkling libation to your next celebration.
Kim Crawford’s Illuminate line of wines uses 'Spinning Cone' low vacuum distillation technology to reduce the alcohol content from a portion of the base wine without impacting its aroma. Approximately 60% of the final volume undergoes alcohol reduction to below 1%, which is then blended with 40% of the original base wine to achieve a final alcohol level of 7%. This lower ABV means lower sugar content compared to your standard bottle of sauvignon blanc, ringing in at just 70 calories per glass.
This process doesn’t sacrifice Kim C’s delicious sauvignon blanc taste we all know and love, either. Elegant yet full-flavored, this wine's crisp acidity is highlighted with a refreshing herbal and citrus finish. A perfect way to sip a crisp glass of white wine on a warm day without compromising on sugar intake.
If you want to enjoy a low-sugar wine, look for one that is bone-dry with a low ABV. Luckily, Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc ticks both boxes. A dry, acidic wine with 13.5% ABV, this zesty Marlborough sauvignon blanc opens with tropical fruit notes of pineapple and guava, followed by hints of honey and toast. User ChezAndre called it “Sunshine by the glass” in their 5-star review of this wine on our website. Pair it with any citrusy seafood dish on your table and you’ve got yourself a fantastic low-sugar sip.
If you’re someone who’s extra conscious of what you put in your body, Lifevine wine is going to be your best friend. Lifevine contains ZERO sugar—period. Their wines are certified organic, additive free and have received the Clean Label Project (CLP) Purity Award, attesting to their quality and purity. As far as mindful drinking goes, this is the crème de la crème.
Lifevine’s zero sugar promise doesn’t skimp on taste OR ABV. Lifevine Cabernet Sauvignon has zero sugar, 13.7% ABV and mouthwatering aromas of plum, fig and dark berry with hints of mocha, spice, vanilla and fresh pie.
Much like Kim Crawford’s Illuminate wines, Meiomi Bright Pinot Noir brings the same full-flavored wine you know and love, just with fewer calories, lower ABV and, of course, lower sugar content.
At just 90 calories per glass and 8% ABV, Meiomi Bright Pinot Noir is a lower-alcohol, full-bodied pinot noir with a fruity character, silky texture and balanced acidity. Aromas of jammy fruit and toasty oak are followed by expressive notes of dark berry, juicy strawberry and toasty mocha. Enjoy it with roasted vegetables or pasta with red sauce for a deliciously light drinking experience.
Sunny with a Chance of Flowers is another brand to add to your regular rotation. Zero sugar, 85 calories per glass, 9% ABV, vegan, gluten-free and sustainably grown, Sunny Pinot Noir boasts riveting flavors of juicy berry, black cherry and pomegranate that lead to a silky finish with a hint of toasty oak. Pinot noir is famously food friendly, and this wine is no exception; if we had to choose, though, we’d pour a glass with a big plate of roasted chicken or saucy BBQ.
If you’re looking for a dry, low-ABV white wine to enjoy, but you're not a fan of sauvignon blanc’s cheek-puckering acidity, try this Italian pinot grigio with low sugar and big flavor. It has a tempting bouquet of fresh pears, herbs and tea and is spicy and slightly buttery and nutty. On the palate, the wine is well-structured with a long and slightly bitter finish. Sip it well-chilled with vegetable lasagna, squash soup or a snack of creamy goat cheese and crackers.
Here’s the good news: when it comes to cocktails, the problem liquid is usually the mixer. If you’re paying more attention to your sugar intake, try staying away from juices, sour mixes, cranberry cocktails or sugary premade cocktail mixers in general. Instead, adding soda water with a squeeze of citrus fruit is always a refreshing, low-sugar mixer option. Read on for recommendations on low-sugar premixed cocktail and spirit options that don’t compromise on taste.
Hard seltzers can be made from just about any mixture of soda water and alcohol, meaning some hard seltzers out there are made from malt liquors and sugar-packed artificial flavor additives.
High Noon isn’t one of them. Made from real vodka and real fruit juices, a can of High Noon is just 100 calories of fruity, easy-drinking, low-ABV deliciousness.
21SEEDS Tequila was born when founder Kat Hantas’ daily glass of wine left her feeling fatigued and out of touch with her body, so her doctor recommended switching to distilled spirits. In search of a simple, tasty way to enjoy tequila, her spirit of choice, Hantas began infusing it herself with grapefruit, jalapeño, orange and other flavor combinations. 21SEEDS is a refreshing, all-natural way to enjoy low-sugar cocktails. Just add soda water and fresh cucumber and jalapeño for a delicious drink.
Ketel One Botanicals contains vodka distilled with natural botanicals and infused with fruit essences for a beautifully crisp and refreshing taste, plus less sugar than traditional flavored spirits. Try it with soda water for a tasty spritz that’s bursting with lush, juicy white peach flavor AND has 40% less calories than a glass of white wine!
Much like Ketel One Botanicals, Smirnoff Zero Sugar Infusions are made with real vodka infused with natural flavors and botanicals and ZERO added sugar. User annekec2 said in their 5-star review of this bottle on our website, “No sugar, easy to drink. Not a crazy alcohol content. Light, natural flavors. Mix well with tonic. Smooth. Nice calm flavor and aroma. My personal favorite!”
100 calories. 1g sugar. 1g carbs. No gluten. 5% ABV. 12 cans. 100% fruity and refreshing. Happy Dad Hard Seltzer is the perfect low-sugar addition to any pool or beach day, barbecue or lazy Sunday. No artificial flavors or strange aftertaste, just a dang good hard seltzer.
