Elizabeth & Wine

Type a wine, a place or a kind of event.

    What is Acidity in Wine?

    5 August 2026 · 1 min read · by Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite

    What is Acidity in Wine?

    Acidity, what is it?

    Acidity is that tart, sour sensation that makes your mouth water. Imagine drinking a glass of water with fresh lemon juice. It's bright, zesty, crisp and lip-puckering.

    White wine poured into a glass beside lemons, green grapes, bread and soft cheese

    The more lemon you add, the higher the acidity.

    A useful way to picture acidity is on the pH scale. Lemon juice sits at around 2.6, while yoghurt is around 4.5. Wines generally sit in between, usually around pH 3 to 3.8.

    At the higher-acidity end you'll find wines such as Albariño and Picpoul.

    At the softer end you'll find styles such as Viognier or Shiraz.

    Some of my favourite high-acidity wine recommendations:
    Adams Picpoul de Pinet - £11.99, Adnams
    Balfour 1503 Albarino - £19.50, Majestic
    Martin Codax Albarino - £16.25, Ocado
    M&S Chel Michel Picpoul de Pinet - £9.50, Ocado
    Codorniu Albarino Organic - £8.00, Amazon
    Tesco Finest Vinas Del Rey Albarino - £12.00, Tesco
    No.1 La Val Albariño - £14.00, Waitrose
    Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc - £12.50, Waitrose

    Elizabeth Hawthorthwaite