Step 2
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ABV — the underrated signal
ABV (alcohol by volume) tells you the wine's style before you ever taste it.
Under 11% — light, often off-dry (Riesling, Moscato). 11–12.5% — light to medium dry. 12.5–13.5% — medium-bodied (most European reds, Burgundy). 13.5–14.5% — full-bodied (most Argentine Malbec, California Cab). 14.5%+ — big, rich, warm-climate.
Small print: labels can legally round ABV by up to 1.5%. A “13%” might actually be 14.5%. Useful range, not exact number.
