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" Sipping a glass of vino seems like a mellow alternative to downing beers, but wine drinkers might be surprised to learn that it&amp;#039;s actually the boozier choice. Brews like Guinness and Corona have an alcohol content of 4.6% while even the lightest wines on the market are at least 12% ABV. But not all bottles are created equal, and whether you&amp;#039;re a fan of red, white or ros\u00E9, it&amp;#039;s good to know what contributes to the difference in alcohol content between wines. First, a bit of background: As grapes grow on the vine, they develop more and more sugar content until they&amp;#039;re picked. During the winemaking process, the grapes&amp;#039; sugars are converted into alcohol, so the more time they have to mature, the boozier the end product. Another element that comes into play is the climate where the grapes are grown. Cool temperatures in places like Germany, France and even New York result in less-sweet styles of wine, while warm regions like Argentina, Australia and California make for rich, full-bodied varieties. So where does your favorite vino fall on the scale? Here&amp;#039;s the breakdown. Low Alcohol Content (12.5% and under) The grapes are picked early on for varieties like White Zinfandel, Muscadet, German Riesling, Vinho Verde, and some ros\u00E9s, which gives them their acidic profile. Sparkling wines like Asti and Prosecco also fall into this category\u2014if you&amp;#039;re in the mood for bubbly and watching your intake, they&amp;#039;re fairly responsible choices.  Medium Alcohol Content (12.5%\u201313.5%) This is where the majority of dry reds and whites fall. Drinkable whites in this range include varieties from Alsace and the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France, New York Riesling, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Italian Pinot Grigio. If you prefer more color in your glass, this ABV also includes French and Spanish ros\u00E9s, French Beaujolais and Burgundy, Bordeaux and Italian Chianti. Medium-High Alcohol Content (13.5%\u201314.5%) As you move up the scale, you&amp;#039;ll notice bolder flavors as well as higher price points. You can thank warm climates and sweeter grapes for these boozy whites: Chardonnay from Australia, Chile and California; Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc from California; and Sauternes from France. Popular reds like Argentine Malbec, Australian Shiraz, Chilean Merlot, Californian Pinot Noir and Syrah and sought-after Italian Barolo are also on the high end of the ABV scale.   High Alcohol Content (14.5% and up) It&amp;#039;s rare for naturally made wines to reach such a high ABV, which is why most varieties here are fortified\u2014that means they&amp;#039;re made with the addition of distilled grape brandy that ups the alcohol content. Sweet and fruity California Zinfandel and Petite Sirah as well as rich after-dinner sippers like Portuguese Madeira, Spanish sherry and Italian Amarone pack a seriously boozy punch, so sip slowly! Follow Delish on Instagram. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a49452/wine-highest-lowest-alcohol-content/>