Wines from the Tejo region in Portugal can now be low- and no-alcohol while still retaining PGI status. 

Introduced earlier this month and approved by the Tejo General Council (CVR) and the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho (IVV), the region said it hopes the change will put it at the forefront of the wine industry. 

The changes mean wines with a minimum 7.5% abv will be included under the PGI as light wines. Partially dealcoholised wines with a minimum alcohol content of 0.5% abv will also be permitted under the PGI. 

The revised alcohol thresholds mean that red and rosé wines must have a minimum abv of 10.5%; white wines must also have a minimum of 10.5% abv; and Leve (light) red, rosé and white wines must now have a minimum of 7.5% and a maximum of 10.5%. 

Previously, the minimum threshold for Leve wines was 9%, making this a 1.5% abv change. 

Representatives from the region said this decision was made to support the rising export volume of Tejo wines into the UK, where consumers are seeking lower-alcohol alternatives. 

Luis de Castro, president of the CVR Tejo said: “Tejo’s most compelling attribute is diversity. With a multitude of microclimates, indigenous and international grape varieties and characteristic terroirs, the talented winemakers in the region create a breadth of styles, which feature naturally occurring lower-alcohol wines.  

“As UK drinkers increasingly adopt moderation, demand for lighter styles of wine is moving from niche to mainstream. We’re excited to now be able to offer a range of new wines for this category to the UK trade that will sit as easily on a restaurant wine list as on a retail shelf and will provide more opportunities for UK consumers to taste and enjoy our region’s wines.”