New Low-Calorie Costa Calida Wine

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 is the result of research help from Murcia and Cartagena University and the Technological Development Centre. € 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.

The price of the wine at the vineyard will be €6, but specialist wineries are expected to charge €10 and restaurants between 14 and 20 Euros.