Marks & Spencer is selling a wine with half the normal calorie-count

'This is a breakthrough'

A trend for niche drinks has led to more consumers swapping French or New World wine for English wine, according to UHY Hacker Young (Getty/iStock)

A British high-street store has launched a range of wines with half the calories of the standard tipple.

Those of us who enjoy the odd glass will know that, while it tastes delicious, it’s not exactly kind to your waistline. A modest pour contains more than 100 calories, and the fashion for larger wine glasses means many people regularly drink far more than they realise.

However, this new wine means drinkers can now enjoy a drink with the knowledge that they're not doing so much damage to their health intentions.

Available in three types – Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and rosé – each glass contains just 50 calories per 100ml glass.

Many wines achieve their low calorie status by dramatically reducing the alcohol content – Aldi’s Featherweight range is just 5.5 per cent compared to an average 12.5 per cent in standard tipples. This one lands somewhere in the middle with 8.5 per cent abv alcohol content.

Called Sumika, which means light in Japanese, the new wine was made for M&S by Journey’s End winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Buy Sumika Sauvignon Blanc here

But which one should you try?

The store says fans of white wines can expect the Sauvignon Blanc to be light and elegant with “refreshing flavours of elderflower, passionfruit and peach,“ while the Shiraz is more rounded and smooth with hints of oak, “mocha, blackberry and spice notes.”

Alternatively, you can pick up a bottle of the Sumika Rosé, which has flavours of “wild strawberries and raspberries.”

Buy Sumika Rosé here

While previous attempts at reducing calorie content of wine have resulted in a decline in flavour, Marks and Spencer’s new range has even got a thumbs up from the critics.

”This is a breakthrough,” Jilly Goolden, a leading wine critic told the Mail Online.

Buy Sumika Shiraz here

“So far low-alcohol and low-calories have been a great disappointment. Some are disgusting.

“But this is a great step forward.”