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Note added at 13 mins (2007-09-14 08:28:22 GMT)
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or:
containing a small quantity of alcohol
or:
a small quantity of alcohol-containing....

français term (edited): URGENT faiblement alcoolisé

This could be at least one way of saying it.

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Note added at 10 mins (2007-09-14 08:25:36 GMT)
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another would be "has a low alcohol content"

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Note added at 14 mins (2007-09-14 08:29:31 GMT)
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Interesting article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=BLOGDETAIL&g...

I'd avoid using "reduced" though and stick to "low"

français term (edited): URGENT faiblement alcoolisé

a word I got from a (wine( marketing company in London. I hate it, hence my low confidence level.

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Note added at 29 mins (2007-09-14 08:44:48 GMT)
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I'm with you all the way on not saying low for 12.5!

français term (edited): URGENT faiblement alcoolisé

If you're concerned about the definition of low alcohol contradicting with 12.5% - and I do get your point! - maybe the solution would be to turn it round and say something along the lines of "a light and not too alcoholic wine" or "a light wine with a moderate alcohol content". That would convey restraint whilst not committing it to the ranks of what UK drinkers would normally expect from a low alcohol wine!

français term (edited): URGENT faiblement alcoolisé

or comparatively low alcohol

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comparatively being the operative word here: gets around the problem of it not being low alcohol for wine

français term (edited): URGENT faiblement alcoolisé

Here's my take on this. The French have traditionally seen wine as an accompaniment to food. It is part of the meal. The aperitif wines are a special set of sweet, fortified wines (Rivesaltes, etc.). Only in recent years has the list of accepted aperitifs expanded to include some dry whites - chardonnay and viognier in particular - but even this practice seems to be limited to a more branche crowd that can be reached through marketing (I will never see it at my in-laws, for instance).

This rose is trying to reach that crowd as well, saying it's not just for the table, but can also be a lighter (in alcohol) alternative to what is usually served away from the table - i.e., hard alcohol and fortified wine.

The problem is, we anglophones have long ago adopted the idea that wine can be enjoyed on its own "at any time of day or night". This particular text is trying to convince a French population that needs convincing - those who will read this translation will need no convincing!

My advice is to go with a looser translation that reflects what the message is - this wine is a light, refreshing alternative to other alcoholic beverages (traditional cocktails?), and can be enjoyed etc etc

français term (edited): URGENT faiblement alcoolisé

Low alcohol beer (also, non-alcoholic beer, small beer, or small ale or near-beer) is beer with very low or no alcohol content.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_alcohol_beer

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Note added at 25 mins (2007-09-14 08:40:46 GMT)
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Cascade Premium Light is a low-alcohol lager, which is currently the biggest selling light beer in Australia. Alcohol Content: 2.7%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Brewery

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-09-14 10:11:11 GMT)
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Mara if you google "faiblement alcoolisé" you will see that it is frequently the alcohol content. Look at the ref below! low alcohol content for 30%! because it's about cognac, so it's as a comparision to its end content. I think Carole's solution is good.

Ce premier liquide, encore faiblement alcoolisé (environ 30%d'alcool) est appelé brouillis
http://www.ecole-des-cognacs.com/fr/etape-2--creer-des-eaux-...

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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-09-14 13:49:21 GMT)
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apart from the suggestion I've given you 'light alcoholic strength' could work

http://www.cantinebacchini.it/default_en.asp?catalogo=rose

or 'lighter alcoholic strength'

of course, it left us with "léger" coming after, that could be dealt with as "refreshing"

I think by turning it round this way, and avoiding at all costs calling it a 'wine', you'll be able to get around the problem.
Personally, I'd prefer to steer clear of the word 'alcohol' altogether, though I remember my parents saying "You'll like this, it's not too alckie"

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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-09-14 10:52:08 GMT)
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OK, thanks, Mara, for that clarification; in which case, you certainly can't use anything like 'low-alcohol' etc., and I think the 'not too strong' route might be your best bet — at least, if you can find a way of expressing it that fits with your overall register. Remember how often there is a change from negative to positive between FR - EN, as in "deux fois moins cher" > "half the price", and things like 'peu alcoölisé' > 'not too alcoholic'

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Note added at 23 hrs (2007-09-15 07:32:54 GMT)
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In answer to Tamara's comment: yes, I do know about the amount of rosé consumed during the Summer — and yes, I /do/ mean from personal experience ;-))

Probably, the /lack/ of Summer this year is what has caused this glut of the dreaded pink stuff that they're now trying to shift!