Wine agent PLB has cut the alcohol in its Chilean rosé wine after research revealed growing demand for more refreshing, lower-alcohol pink wines.

The Merlot rosé under the company's Chileno brand umbrella is now about 12% abv, down from the previous 13%.

"When we looked at rosés currently on shelf, we discovered popular wines from other countries sat between 9.5% and 12% abv, while Chilean offers averaged 13%," said marketing manager Claire Summersby.

Viña Ventisquero, which produces the wine, had to adapt its vineyard practices in order to naturally lower the abv.

"The harvest was brought forward three weeks and the grapes were given more shade to lower their sugar levels before they were picked," she said.

Last year sparkling wine brand Sovio was banned from UK shelves for using the spinning cone method to reduce alcohol levels, a method that is banned under EU law.