Mid-Strength Wine Is Having A Moment

For many years, drinking culture in Britain felt a bit all or nothing. You were either going wild and knocking back the shots all night or dutifully abstaining and hibernating indoors to uphold your annual Dry Jan promise – there was no middle ground. But now, it feels like we’re finally beginning to master the art of moderation.

The mindful drinking movement continues to gain momentum through practices like zebra striping, which involves alternating non-alcoholic drinks with alcoholic drinks. And as people increasingly look for drinks that give them a buzz without the dreaded hangover, the low-ABV drinks category has soared in popularity – particularly among cocktails and beer. But now it’s wine that’s getting the low-alcohol treatment. 

Enter mid-strength wine, the drinks trend set to soar in 2026. According to a report from KAM Insights, 50 percent of us would rather have two mid-strength drinks than one strong one when ‘just going to the pub for one’ – citing reasons like moderating for a healthier liver, weight loss and better mental health. Granted, the research was commissioned by a group of mid-strength drinks brands, but stats from more neutral sources back it up: according to Ocado, sales of mid-strength wine increased by 4000 percent from 2024 to 2025, for instance. We know the low and no-alcohol sector in general is booming too, with the IWSN predicting the market to grow to over $4bn by 2028.

But what does the term mid-strength wine actually mean? And which bottles are worth buying?

What Is Mid-Strength Wine?

There’s no firm industry definition of what constitutes mid-strength wine, but generally it’s wines with an ABV (alcohol by volume) or five to nine percent. ‘Mid-strength wine is wine that is roughly half the amount of alcohol than a typical bottle of wine,’ explains Gabriella Lamb, co-founder of 6Percent. ‘Having a wine that sits in this middle sweet spot means that you can experience all the flavour and aromas of wine, just with less alcohol.’ 

At 6Percent, the process of creating it begins in the same way as all wine: the grapes are harvested, crushed into a juice, and then left to ferment in a tank to turn the natural sugars into alcohol. Then, Lamb tells us, some of the alcohol is removed using a method called vacuum distillation. ‘The process allows us to burn off the alcohol at a much lower temperature than boiling which ensures the delicate aromas and flavours of the wine are preserved,’ she explains. ‘Once it’s removed, we then blend it with a full strength wine to gain the desired flavour and ABV.’

Along with her co-founder and husband Russell, the duo spent two years experimenting to ‘create the perfect balance: remove just enough alcohol so it still tasted like wine, but not enough to have to rebalance it with excessive sugar.’ 

6Percent

At Wednesday’s Domaine, which recently expanded into the mid-strength category, wines are made by blending full strength wines with de-alcoholised versions of that same wine to achieve the desired ABV. Founder Luke Thompson notes that a key part is finding the right base wines. ‘Not all wines work equally well when the wine is removed, so it’s important to consider their profiles and what does and doesn’t work through that process,’ he says. ‘Once you’ve done that, it comes down to the techniques and approaches used in the winery, all of which play a role in the finished product that consumers get to enjoy around the dinner table.’

What Are The Benefits?

Lower alcohol content means you won’t feel the impact as much as you would with full-strength wine. Whether it’s at home after a long day at work or while out and about socialising, mid-strength wine means you can enjoy the feeling of having a proper drink without ruining the next day – ideal for mid-week evenings. These wines typically contain fewer calories too. And, crucially, you don’t have to compromise on flavour (which, let’s be honest, is often the case with completely non-alcoholic drinks).

For the Lambs, becoming parents was the inspiration for 6Percent. ‘As wine lovers who later became parents, we soon realised that enjoying a glass or two combined with early starts was beginning to affect how we felt the next day. We still loved having our weekly ritual of wine, but didn’t want the very high alcohol levels that many wines are now reaching, nor did we want to give up wine entirely. My husband and I thought there must be a better way to enjoy wine without the head spinning amounts of alcohol.’

Hemsley adds, ‘We’re all increasingly conscious of what we consume and when we consume it, yet we still want to enjoy a drink and the role alcohol plays within that. Mid-strength options allow for both needs to be met – they’re rooted in familiarity yet built for how we live now. They’re also easy to understand – ABVs are notoriously confusing and misunderstood, but at 6.5 percent, it’s  quick to realise that it’s roughly half the strength of a traditional wine.’

Best Mid-Strength Wines

Kylie Minogue’s Petit Rosé

Kylie’s rosé is one of the most successful celebrity wine brands out there – and we have good news, the collection includes a mid-strength variety. The Petit Rosé is a fresh wine with notes of summer berries and a light sparkle, with an ABV of seven percent. kylieminoguewines.com

Wednesday’s Domaine

Wednesday’s Domaine

You might know Wednesday’s Domaine for its premium non-alcoholic Spanish wines, but recently the brand introduced two mid-strength varieties. Doré – meaning golden – is a white Chardonnay which pairs well with roast chicken and creamy pasta dishes, while Boisé is a red you could enjoy with charcuterie or slow-cooked meats. wednesdaysdomaine.com

6Percent

The aforementioned 6Percent has two bottles on offer: a Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine, and a Sauvignon Blanc White Wine. Both are from Bordeaux, and both offer half the calories than a full-strength bottle of wine. 6percent.wine

Future Château

Another big hitter in the mid-strength sphere is Future Château. Founder Tom Benn decided to launch his own company after struggling to find a low-alcohol wine that wasn’t too sweet or two flat. He spent five years developing the wines, creating the perfect five percent ABV blend across three bottles: a Syrah Grenache, a Sauvignon Vermentino and a sparkling. futurechateau.com

19 Crimes

Aussie wine brand 19 Crimes has two mid-strength varieties: a full-flavoured red and a fruity Chardonnay. Both have an ABV of around seven percent, and are available to buy on Ocado. ocado.com / ocado.com