Costa Cálida
New low-calorie wine produced in Spain
By h.b.
Feb 19, 2008 - 8:16 AM

Something positive has resulted from the drought. A vineyard in Jumilla, Murcia has come up with what it is calling ‘vino light’.

Altos de la Ermita has 6.5 degrees of alcohol, half the normal amount for traditional wine and has, as a consequence, fewer calories. The 2006 Crianza is made from Monastrell, Tempranillo and Verdot grapes and the vine is starved of water for several hours a day when the grapes are maturing, to get the lower alcohol content.

The new light wine comes thanks to help in the research from the Murcia and Cartagena University and the Technological Development Centre which is part of the Ministry for Industry. 2.5 million € has been invested in the project and the first bottles go on sale in April.

How well the 770,000 bottles sell will be key to the future of the project. Price at the vineyard is 6 €, and specialist wineries are expected to charge 10 € and restaurants between 14 and 20 €.