could you suggest the wines in white and red that are low in sugar ?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
The answer to that question is quite simple: You're more likely to find wines which are dry than sweet. The types of wine which do not contain any sugar you could detect include all the popular varietal expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir - along with the classic European counterparts with geographic names (Sancerre, Chablis, Bordeaux, Côtes du Rhône, etc.). In fact, the list of dry wines, both white and red, is far too long to mention here as it numbers in the thousands. Let's tackle your question the other way around by mentioning wine types that taste sweet to nearly everyone. That group would take in the many examples of Moscato, for example, and those labeled as dessert or late harvest wines, and European equivalents (e.g., Sauternes). Fortified wines are often sweet, but not always: Port is reliably sweet, but Sherry can be bone dry (Fino) or quite sweet (Pedro Ximenez). I've left Riesling to last as the wines from this grape are a special case. Many people believe all Riesling is sweet, but this is certainly not true; in fact, it is more common to find Rieslings which taste dry to nearly everyone even if they contain a small amount of sugar. This is due to the high acidity (and, quite commonly, low pH) of Riesling wines, which counteracts the perceived sweetness. Australian Rieslings as a group are probably the driest of all. Austrian Riesling typically has a small amount of measurable sugar content, but the wines leave a dry impression on the palate. Similarly, in the case of Washington State or Finger Lakes Riesling, choose those labeled "dry." Germany, once thought of as a source of sweet Riesling, now leans toward dry styles; look for those designated as Trocken, among others. To sum up, the odds are in your favor to find wines low in sugar, or without any you can taste, aside from a few exceptions.
