Meet Betty: The new SOHO Wine light riesling that's already winning awards

'Betty' is the new low alcohol riesling by SOHO Wines that's already impressing wine lovers around New Zealand. Last month the new drop won Gold, beating all other ‘higher’ alcohol rieslings to the Champion trophy, at the largest wine competition in the country, the New Zealand International Wine Show. The recent changes to New Zealand’s drink-driving laws and an overall growing interest in health have curbed alcohol consumption, with many staying away from enjoying a glass of wine with a meal or as a social activity with friends. The wine industry's global approach was to produce 'lifestyle' wines which typically have an alcohol level of around 9 percent, instead of the traditional 12-14 percent. New Zealand’s SOHO Wines wanted to make sure that their addition, ‘Betty’, may be light on alcohol but still big on flavour and intensity. Bottled in August this year, SOHO’s champion Betty Riesling was made with grapes sourced from ‘Jomara’, the Carter family vineyard in Marlborough and crafted by Waiheke Island based winemaker James Rowan. sohowineco.com