When it comes to alcohol, there are tons of options out there, but one of the most popular options has long been wine.
And when it comes to enjoying a glass of wine, there’s a lot more to consider than just the taste. From dry wines to sweet wines, the calorie intake and sugar content can vary, and you may choose to opt for a specific bottle of wine based on this.
Whether you’re a fan of a strong Cabernet Sauvignon or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, understanding the nutritional value and number of calories in your favorite alcoholic beverages can go a long way in a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
But don’t worry; this guide is not here to tell you that you shouldn’t enjoy a glass of red or white wine. I mean, enjoy multiple glasses if you want!
I’m writing this guide simply to inform you about the calorie content of wine because alcohol doesn’t list nutrition facts the same way your favorite snacks do.
Whether you’re simply curious, or you want to learn how to track your favorite wine to fit it into your calories or macros, I’ve got you covered.
How Large is a Standard Glass of Wine?
Let’s start with the basics: how big is a standard drink of wine?
Most people might be surprised to learn that a serving size for wine is typically 5 ounces in the United States. We tend to assume that a “glass” and a “cup” are the same, but a cup is generally 8 ounces, making a glass of wine much smaller.
A bottle of wine contains around 25 ounces of liquid, so that gives you roughly 5 glasses of wine per bottle. This guide will focus on the calorie count and grams of carbs in this standard drink size, but that’s not to say that this is the only drink size.
Unless your drink is being carefully measured, it’s not uncommon for a glass of wine to vary by an ounce or two. But even if it is being measured, there are other common sizes you might see, especially outside of the United States…
Understanding Serving Sizes: 175ml vs. 125ml
While we often focus on a standard 5-ounce pour (about 147ml) in the United States, there are two other common sizes you’ll see, especially outside of our country.
Many people will enjoy wine in larger 175ml glasses. For sparkling wines, a smaller 125ml pour is common. Here’s a quick look at the differences in calories:
- Red or White Wine (175ml): Roughly 145 calories.
- Red or White Wine (147ml): About 120 calories.
- Sparkling Wine (125ml): Around 80 calories.
These numbers can vary based on the type and brand of wine, but this is just to give you a general idea.
Where Do the Calories in Wine Come From?
Unless you’re a seasoned wine drinker, you may fall into that camp that assumed (and believes) that wine is all sugar. I mean, wine is made from grapes, so it makes sense that it is loaded with fructose, right?
This is a common misconception, but it is very much false.
The calories in wine come down to two things: Alcohol By Volume (ABV) and residual sugar.
- ABV: Alcohol has 7 calories per gram, so the higher the ABV%, the more calories.
- Residual Sugar: During fermentation, sugar in grapes turns into alcohol. But sometimes, not all sugar ferments, leaving residual sugar. Dry wines have less, while sweet wines have more, influencing the calorie content and the overall sweetness.
The calories in your wine will be determined by these two factors, and you don’t have to worry about outside factors such as added ingredients.
How to Track Alcohol When Tracking Your Calories or Macros
A lot of my content focuses on tracking macros, which is simply tracking your fat, carbohydrate, and protein intake.
But where does alcohol fall into that? I have an entire blog post dedicated to tracking alcohol, but I’ll give you the summary right here.
Alcohol is technically its own macronutrient, and it contains 7 calories per gram. But even though it is technically a macronutrient, we don’t include it alongside fat, carbs, and protein.
Don’t feel bad for alcohol, though. It’s left out for good reason: alcohol provides us with absolutely no nutritional value.
When considering any alcoholic drink like light beer or sparkling wine, it’s important to remember that alcohol calories don’t contribute to your daily carbs, fat, or protein. They’re unique, providing no nutritional value but still adding to your overall calorie intake.
So when it comes to tracking those calories, you have options to track them as carbs, fat, or simply as calories only.
Since low-calorie alcoholic beverages like hard seltzers often have virtually no carbs, it may seem odd to track those calories as carbs. You certainly don’t have to do that, but it offers the most flexibility since we are often not super strict about carb intake (unless you’re on a keto diet).
Personally, I simply log the calories and move on, not worrying about the macro totals. This indirectly makes them part of my carb total, since I have specific protein and fat goals I aim to hit.
Confused? Don’t be. Check out my Tracking Alcohol post for a more detailed breakdown.
Estimating Calories in Wine: A Quick Guide at the Liquor Store
If you take a trip to the liquor store and start searching for the nutrition facts on the bottles, you’re going to be left confused (and likely a bit angry).
While we often focus on food labels around here, wine bottles leave us guessing.
This post is going to give you estimates so you don’t have to guess, but there’s a handy trick you can use when you’re at the liquor store trying to choose a bottle: Look at the Alcohol By Volume Percentage (ABV%).
How ABV% Relates to Calories
- More Alcohol, More Calories: Simply put, the higher the ABV%, the more calories in the wine. Since alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, wines with higher ABV% will naturally contain more calories.
- General Rule of Thumb: A typical wine with an ABV of 13% might contain around 120-125 calories per 5-ounce pour. For a 175ml glass, that might be around 150 calories.
- Lower ABV Options: Looking for something lighter? Seek out wines with lower ABV%, perhaps around 10-12%. You might find bottles closer to 100 calories per 5-ounce pour or around 130 calories for a 175ml glass.
Tips for Quick Calorie Estimation
- Check the ABV% on the Label: Most wine bottles will display the ABV% clearly. Use it as a quick guide to gauge the calorie content.
- Consider the Wine Type: Sparkling wines often have lower ABV%, while reds might be on the higher side. Keep that in mind when choosing.
- Use Calorie Tracking Apps: Several apps and websites can help you find the calorie content of popular wines based on type or even ABV%, which should take the guesswork out.
- Remember Moderation: While it’s great to be calorie-aware, don’t forget that enjoying wine responsibly is most important. Balance is key.
Wine shopping doesn’t have to be a guessing game. By paying attention to the ABV% and understanding how it relates to calories, you can make more informed choices without needing to completely guess.
But remember, wine is meant to be enjoyed, and there isn’t a single wine that is going to be loaded up with an insane amount of calories. Generally speaking, most will be very similar.
How Many Calories In a Glass of Wine: Red vs White Wine
There are many different types of wine, but for the purposes of this post, we’re going to look at seven different types of both red and white wine.
It’s important to note that most types of wine are going to be extremely similar calorically. While I’ll be listed each type in order from fewest to most calories, you’ll notice that they are all very similar. I’ll dive into the differences between red and white wine below, but don’t be alarmed when you see the calories all being very similar.
One last note is that I am only listing the calories and carbs here because that is all that wine contains. You won’t find any wine containing fat, protein, sodium, etc, so they will not be listed below.
Calories in Red Wine (Lowest to Highest)
Sangiovese
- Calories: 120
- Carbs: 3.3g
Sangiovese, often used in Chianti (Italy), has the fewest calories among red wines. Its complex flavors and earthy tones put it into the “medium” category.
Pinot Noir
- Calories: 121
- Carbs: 3.4g
Pinot Noir is known for its light and fruity characteristics. With moderate calories and less alcohol, it’s versatile and pairs well with various dishes.
Merlot
- Calories: 122
- Carbs: 3.7g
Merlot is a dry red wine known for its velvety texture and ripe fruit flavors. Much like sangiovese, merlot falls into the medium category in terms of sweetness.
Malbec
- Calories: 125
- Carbs: 3.8g
Malbec is a bolder red (referred to as full-bodies) that is known for its darker fruit flavors and fruity flavors. Malbec has a slightly higher ABV, leading to slightly more calories.
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Calories: 125
- Carbs: 3.8g
A popular type of wine, Cabernet Sauvignon is a dry wine with a slightly higher ABV similar to Malbec. You’ll often find this wine paired with red meat.
Zinfandel
- Calories: 127
- Carbs: 4.2g
Known for its peppery kick, Zinfandel is bold, with slightly higher sugar content and calories, offering a unique and spicy flavor profile.
Syrah
- Calories: 130
- Carbs: 3.9g
Syrah offers a strong flavor and higher calories. With notes of blackberry and pepper, its rich taste makes it a favorite for bold red lovers.
Calories in White Wine (Lowest to Highest)
Gewürztraminer
- Calories: 119
- Carbs: 3.8g
Known for its floral and exotic notes, Gewürztraminer provides unique flavors with slightly fewer calories… just don’t ask me to try to pronounce it.
Sauvignon Blanc
- Calories: 120
- Carbs: 3.2g
Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white wine, which explains the lower calories. Sauvignon Blanc has a very unique flavor profile, often describes as herbal and acidic.
Semillon
- Calories: 120
- Carbs: 3.6g
Semillonis is commonly used in blends, such as Bordeaux, or used to make sweeter wines. On its own, it’s a rather dry wine.
Pinot Grigio
- Calories: 122
- Carbs: 3.2g
Pinot Grigio is one of the most popular types of wine out there, offering a very refreshing taste while still being dry.
Chardonnay
- Calories: 123
- Carbs: 3.5g
Like Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay is an extremely popular choice. The dryness of Chardonnay can vary, and you’ll find that your bottles can be crisp and clean or rich and oaky.
Moscato
- Calories: 125
- Carbs: 4.5g
Moscato is often fruity and sweet, which leads to slightly higher calories. The higher sweetness is balanced out by a lower ABV, resulting in a calorie content right around the norm.
Riesling
- Calories: 128
- Carbs: 5.5g
Riesling ranges from dry to sweet and leads to more sugar and calories. Its aromatic, apple-like taste makes it a favorite for those who prefer sweet drinks. Personally, this is my favorite type of wine since I enjoy sweet things.
Differences Between Red and White Wine
The differences between red and white go beyond the grape skins and colors, although that is the main (and most obvious) difference in the types of wines.
Generally, red wines are made from dark-colored grapes and often have a rich and robust flavor. The grape skins are included in the fermentation process, adding tannins (the things that give wine its mouthfeel and texture) and complexity.
White wines, on the other hand, are made from green or yellowish grapes, or sometimes even red grapes with skins removed. They tend to be lighter, crisper, and sometimes sweeter. The absence of grape skins in the fermentation process can make white wines more palatable for some, including myself.
Calorically speaking, each type of wine is extremely similar, but the sugar content might vary more widely among white wines. For example, a sweet Riesling may contain more sugar and calories than a dry Cabernet Sauvignon.
Beyond sugar, there is a difference in wine when it comes to antioxidants. Red wine is rich in antioxidants, which can help to keep your memory sharp, lower cholesterol, and reduce blood sugar.
Of course, drinking wine every day won’t necessarily lead to all of these benefits, but the perceived benefits, even if they are minimal, help to make red wine an appealing option.
What About Other Types of Wine?
We’ve looked at some of the more common types of red and white wine above, but there ate lots of different types of wine out there.
While it’s impossible to touch upon every possible variation, here’s a quick breakdown of other popular types of wine.
Ice Wine
- Calories: 180
- Carbs: 20g
Popular in Canada, Ice Wine is made from grapes frozen on the vine. It is referred to as Dessert Wine, and for good reason- it is significantly sweeter and contains far more sugar than your average wine.
Sparkling Wine
- Calories: 90
- Carbs: 1.5g
Who doesn’t love some bubbly? Sparkling wines are often served in 125ml glasses, containing just 80 calories on average (the above calories are for a slightly larger glass).
Whether it’s prosecco, cava, or champagne, a toast to your loved ones won’t set you back by much in the calorie department.
Wine Coolers
- Calories: 220
- Carbs: 30g
Wine coolers are made from wine and fruit juice, which means they have much more sugar and therefore calories than regular wine. They are delicious, but not the best option if you’re worried about your caloric intake.
Rosé Wine
Made from red grapes but with a shorter contact time with the skins, rosé has characteristics of both red and white wines. It’s popular for its pink color and can vary from dry to sweet.
Fortified Wines
Fortified wines have extra alcohol added during the fermentation process, usually in the form of brandy. This makes them sweeter and higher in both alcohol and calories.
Here are some popular types:
Port
Sherry (dry)
Sherry (sweet)
Dessert Wines
Ice Wine is a specific type of dessert wine, but there are other types as well. Other dessert wines are made from grapes left on the vine to become very ripe. They tend to be very sweet and rich in flavor, with a higher calorie content.
Sauternes
Late Harvest
Non-Alcoholic Wines
- Calories: 30
- Carbs: 7g (can vary greatly based on added sugars)
An increasingly popular choice for those avoiding alcohol, non-alcoholic wines offer wine-like flavors without the alcohol content (and thus fewer calories).
Mulled Wine
- Calories: 160 (depends on added sugar and spices)
- Carbs: 16g
Often consumed in the winter, mulled wine is spiced and sometimes sweetened, which could affect its calorie content. If there are simple spices added, the calories won’t change, but it is most often offset by added sugar as well.
Conclusion
The world of wine might seem complex, but when it comes to calories, most wines are strikingly similar.
A few calories here and there shouldn’t deter you from savoring your favorite blend. Whether you’re drawn to the robust flavor of a Cabernet Sauvignon or the crisp notes of Pinot Grigio, the differences in calorie content are quite minimal.
Choosing wine shouldn’t be just about numbers; what truly matters is finding the type of wine that pleases your palate and fits your unique preferences.
At the end of the day, wine is meant to be enjoyed, celebrated, and shared. So go out there and indulge in the flavors you love, knowing that moderation is key.
Wine can be a very joyous part of life, so raise your glass and toast to enjoyment, satisfaction, and the simple pleasures that a beautiful bottle can bring!
