Is dry wine high in calories?

You’d never know this from looking at your typical bottle of wine, but the answer is simple: For most dry table wines that hover somewhere between 11 and 14 percent alcohol by volume, a 5-ounce glass will contain about 120 to 130 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Most wine labels tell you the alcohol content and little else. But two recent measures aim to make nutritional information more widely available to drinkers. In 2013, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) ruled that alcohol producers could voluntarily print a “Serving Facts” label on their bottles, similar to what you see on packaged food products in the grocery store—though it’s still unclear whether many producers will opt in.

Meanwhile, starting in December 2015, chain restaurants will be required to disclose calorie information for alcohol, as well as for food, on their menus.

What would a nutrition label look like for an average bottle of dry table wine?

Here's a sample label based on data from the U.S.D.A.

Where do wine’s calories come from?

One key source of calories is alcohol, which contains 7 calories per gram. So a glass of Zinfandel at 15 percent alcohol by volume will likely contain a few more calories than a glass of Albariño at 11 percent alcohol by volume.

Also contributing to the calorie count are carbohydrates—including sugar—which bring 4 calories per gram. A typical dry wine may have around 4 grams of carbs per pour, whereas the same serving of a sweet dessert wine can deliver about 20 grams of carbs.

Remember, these figures apply to 5-ounce glasses of wine—which, a 2013 study found, many drinkers fail to gauge accurately. You may be pouring more calories than you realize.

What about low-calorie wines, like Skinnygirl?

If Skinnygirl wines are low-calorie, then most wines are low-calorie. One serving of any of Skinnygirl’s offerings—whether Pinot Noir, Moscato or Prosecco—boasts 100 calories, a marginal 20 to 30 fewer calories than in any other dry table wine. That difference is equivalent to about two stalks of celery.

Skinnygirl wines clock in at a relatively normal 12 percent ABV, but other so-called diet wines are much lower in alcohol than many wine lovers expect when they’re imbibing: The Skinny Vine, at 95 calories per glass, offers wines as low as 7.3 percent ABV; Weight Watchers wines, with 89 calories per glass, stand around 8.5 percent ABV.

Are wine’s calories “empty calories”?

Wine by itself may not make a meal, but calorie counts don’t tell the full story of wine’s nutritional value. Although the jury’s still out, drinking wine—especially red wine—in moderation has been linked to a range of positive health outcomes, potentially including weight loss.

Studies from researchers in Spain and Boston have observed lower weight gains among moderate drinkers than among nondrinkers. Other scientists have found that people consume fewer calories overall when drinking wine. These results, of course, may be influenced by confounding lifestyle factors: It’s possible that wine drinkers as a group tend to make healthier lifestyle choices than nondrinkers, not that wine itself takes off the pounds.

Still, other research has found evidence that red-wine polyphenols might prevent fatty foods from being converted to fatty tissue, and that red wine could keep glucose from entering fat cells. We still can’t be completely sure of wine’s effects on weight gain—more research is needed.

Cutting calories is rarely fun. You have to give up some of your favorite meals and snacks and wonder what you're allowed to eat or drink. Alcoholic beverages are often the first to get cut from a diet. 

Still, you probably don't want to deny yourself the deliciousness of wine so you'd like to know all about the calories in wine. From how many calories in white wine to your favorite decadent red, learning more about wine calorie counts will help manage a healthy diet with a healthy wine intake. A customer may also have unique needs, so this will help if you know how to sell wine.

Keep reading to learn the average caloric content of different types of wine and get the tools to determine a wine’s calories on your own.

Calories in a Bottle of Wine

A full bottle of wine can have anywhere from 450 to 1200 calories. This large range is due to the plethora of wine options to choose from. There are also many variables between different types of wine. How wine is created and what it contains can drastically change the number of calories in wine. We won't include cooking wine in this list as most of the wine is burned off during cooking.

In general, the higher the wine alcohol content (ABV) the higher the calories. This is why red wine usually has more calories than white wine. The alcohol and caloric content of wine is based upon the amount of sugars that are converted to alcohol during the fermentation process. A gram of alcohol is more calorically dense than a gram of carbohydrates (sugars).

How Many Calories in a Glass of Wine?

A glass of wine contains between 90 and 240 calories. This amount is based on a standard wine pour of 5 oz. 

Are you trying to keep the calories to a minimum but still want to enjoy a glass of wine? Picking a dry white wine with a lower ABV is your best bet. A riesling, pinot blanc, or sauvignon blanc are all good options here. You can also keep track of your pours and the calories in wine by using wine glasses with pour lines.

In addition to sources like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the vintner themselves, you can also attempt to determine the caloric content yourself. Just use the simple formula below:

ABV x Ounces x 1.8

How Many Calories in Red Wine?

Red wine has an average of 25 calories per ounce. Red wines can have as little as 23 calories per ounce or as much as 26 calories per ounce, based on the wine's type and age. Red wine tends to have a higher calorie count because it is fermented with older, more sugary grapes with the skin left on. This leads to the creation of more tannins in wine and a higher ABV. 

Those tannins in red wine are also what cause the deep red color. Remember that next time you have to look up how to remove red wine stains or find the best wine stain removers.

Calories in Port Wine

Port wine has an average of 50 calories per ounce. This dark, rich wine tops many lists. Port wine has one of the highest ABVs available. This is because port wine is a fortified wine. During the fermentation process, winemakers add distilled grape spirits. This prevents all the sugar from converting to alcohol, making the wine both sweet and highly alcoholic.

Port also makes the list in regard to the amount of sugar in wine. This is pretty rare for a red wine. It's also an aged wine that should be served in a certain way to optimize flavor. You should pick up one of the best wine aerators or best wine decanters to ensure you get the most out of your port.

Calories In Merlot Wine

Merlot wine has an average of 24 calories per ounce. Somewhat surprising for a red, merlot can actually have fewer calories than a number of white wines. Like chardonnay, merlot turns out to be 120 calories a glass and 600 calories a bottle. If you are a lover of red wines, merlot is one of the best for sticking within a certain calorie count. Don't think you'll have to give up all red wine for your diet.

Calories in Cabernet Wine

Cabernet wine has an average of 24 calories per ounce. Proving the "red wine has more calories" idea wrong again! Cabernet sauvignon is tied with merlot in its low calorie count. One glass is 120 calories and a full bottle is 600 calories. Red wines can get a bad rap when dieting, but you can safely say that cabernet is not a problem. Just make sure to avoid any fortified cabernets on the market as these added sugar can add calories.

How Many Calories in White Wine?

White wine has an average of 24 calories per ounce. This number is only slightly lower than that of red wine. This is because there is such a broad spectrum of white wines. A wine like a riesling will come in below average but another white like a sweet dessert wine will be far above it. It's important to check both the ABV and sugar content in a white wine to understand where it falls on the spectrum. Any added sugar will add up quickly.

White wine is also perfect for making slushies. So grab that low-calorie white, freeze the wine, and get ready for a delicious treat that doesn't break your diet.

Calories in Riesling Wine

Riesling wine has an average of 23 calories per ounce. Riesling is one of the lightest wines on the market. A single glass would only be 115 calories. That's 5 calories fewer than the average white wine and 10 fewer than a comparable red wine. At 575 calories in a 750mL bottle, we wouldn't feel bad having multiple glasses with a riesling.

Riesling is probably the single best wine to choose if you're concerned at all about the calories in wine.

Calories in Chardonnay Wine

Chardonnay wine has an average of 24 calories per ounce. Chardonnay is light, refreshing, and doesn't take up all of your planned calories. A single glass would only be about 120 calories and a bottle would be 600 calories. You don't have to wait for cheat day to enjoy some chardonnay without feeling guilty.

Chardonnay is also perfect with fish. So, if you're looking for a nice drink to accompany dome healthy salmon, look no further. Food and wine pairing can go hand-in-hand with caloric tracking.

How Many Calories in Rose Wine?

Rose wine (or rosé) has an average of 25 calories per ounce. Though rosé is not a full-bodied red wine, it still has a comparable amount of calories. Rosé comes in a spectrum of colors from amber to purple. The darker colors are more likely to have a higher calorie count. If you love rosé but are trying to keep the calories low, we recommend sticking to the lighter hues.

Low Calorie Wine

Though the averages above may seem high, being on a diet or avoiding sugar doesn't mean you need to go without. There are many wine and wine cooler options at your disposal. White wine, red wine, rose, and even wine coolers can all be found in low calorie options if you know where to look. Usually, you should look to red wines to avoid calories, but there are many brands that craft low calorie white options like FitVine and Kim Crawford. And there's also a brand that's semi-new to the market, Fresh Vine wines from Nina Dobrev and Julianne Hough. From red to white to pink, Fresh Vine has an option for everyone. And all their wines are low calorie, low carbs, low sugar, and gluten free. You can also check out Amazon or your local liquor store to find more options.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions on Calories in Wine

Besides those specific walkthroughs of the calories in different types of wine, there are other questions you might be wondering about calories in wine. These frequently asked questions will guide you even further into the world of considering wine in your calorie count.

Can wine make you gain weight? The question of wine and weight gain is similar to the question of how anything you eat or drink can factor into weight gain. Too much of any good thing can lead to weight gain. If you balance wine intake with a healthy diet and exercise, wine alone won't be a significant factor in weight gain.

What wine is lowest in calories? These days, there are so many low calorie wines on the market. There's a lot of wine out there, and saying definitively that any one wine has the lowest calorie count wouldn't be a statement that would hold up for long. New wines are being created all the time. If you're looking for the lowest calorie wine, searching for your favorites types of wine with low calorie options is the way to go. Of course, a low cal option like Fresh Vine or FitVine is always a good place to start.

So There are That Many Calories in Wine!

There are so many wonderful wine varietals on the market. This means you'll almost always find something that fits what you're looking for. There's such a spread in the calories in wine, that you can have a glass without breaking your diet.

Does dry wine make you gain weight?

What wine is the lowest in calories?

How many calories are in a glass of dry wine?

Which has more calories dry or sweet wine?