Alcohol content does not necessarily determine the quality of the wine. Assuming your favorite winemaker is fermenting wine dry (near zero residual sugar), the alcohol content for a given batch of wine is pretty much set the day the grapes begin fermentation. There is a direct correlation between the amount of sugar in the grapes and the resulting alcohol content. High alcohol percentage does not necessarily result in an alcohol dominated or “hot” wine. Other factors come into play such as tannins, acidity level, and sugar. If any of these factors are out of balance the wine’s quality will be impacted. 

The alcohol content does not determine the wine’s quality. The quality is the result of extraordinary grapes and the winemaker’s artistry. Learn more about wine alcohol content in this short video.