Concerned about calories, watching your carb intake, or simply curious about what’s in your drink? Knowing how many carbs and calories are in different wines makes it easier to select bottles that suit your preferences and adhere to your dietary needs.
While most wines have similar carb and calorie content levels, the differences are worth sipping on if you want to take your wine knowledge and experiences to the next level.
Join us as we explore popular wines’ carb and caloric content, delve into the differences between red, white, and sweet wines, and answer a few FAQs about this interesting topic.
What Is The Carbohydrate And Caloric Content Of Wine?
The carb and calorie content of wine varies depending on several factors. The most prevalent are grape variety, fermentation process, sugar content, and age. All these factors influence the ultimate carb and calorie quantity in a bottle of wine.
However, a standard 750 ml (25-ounce) bottle of wine typically contains around 600 calories and about 17 grams of carbohydrates.
The calories in wine come predominantly from its alcohol and sugar content. Carbohydrates come from the leftover sugar content after the fermentation process. The sweeter and more alcoholic the wine, the more carbohydrates and calories it is likely to contain.
How Many Calories Are In A Single Glass Of Wine?
If you have a sugar aversion or like to follow a low-carb diet, you may prefer a glass-by-glass approach to wine. A single glass of wine (roughly 175 ml) generally contains 3-5 g of carbohydrates and between 80 – 165 calories.
Compared to other types of alcohol, such as margaritas or beer, wine is considered very low in sugar, calories, and carbohydrates. This makes it a popular choice for anyone who wants to lose weight, keep their blood sugar down, or avoid carbohydrates.
Red Wine Versus White Wine: Which Has Fewer Carbs And Calories?
On average, red wine contains more calories than white wine. However, this is not always true in every instance—it still varies depending on the grape type and fermentation processes used to produce the wine.
When you visit a winery or plan a dining experience, knowing the carb and calorie content of the wines you encounter can be useful. This can help you select options that suit your tastes and ensure your (and your friends’) dietary requirements stay fully in check.
Below, we’ll review an extensive list of popular wines, including red, white, dry, and sweet varieties, to help you better understand each group’s nutritional and caloric value.
Red wines
As we touched on briefly above, red wines tend to be more carb and calorie-high, even if the difference is marginal. This is simply because red wine has a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) count, resulting in more sugar development and more calories per milliliter.
Shiraz
One glass of fruity, rich Shiraz contains around 123 calories and 3.9 g of carbohydrates, making it one of the most carb and calorie-high wine varieties. With its full flavor and high alcohol content, it packs a boozy punch, producing more carbohydrates and calories per sip.
Cabernet Sauvignon
One glass of Cabernet Sauvignon contains around 122 calories and 3.8 g of carbohydrates. Almost identical to the Shiraz, a Cab Sauv has much the same carb and calorie content per standard glass.
Pinot Noir
A glass of Pinot Noir contains up to 121 calories and 3.4 g of carbohydrates on average. It’s a safe bet for anyone who wants to minimize their calorie intake while still enjoying a full-bodied red.
Merlot
A single glass of Merlot typically contains around 120 calories and 3.7 g of carbohydrates, making it the least carb and calorie-dense red wine on this list. If you love red wine and want to keep that carb count down, Merlot could be a good option.
White wines
Generally speaking, white wines have lower calorie and carbohydrate contents than red wine varieties. With their light, citrusy notes and more refreshing mouthfeel, white wines are typically preferred by those wanting to reduce their daily carb and calorie intake.
Chardonnay
A single glass of buttery Chardonnay contains around 84 calories and 2.2 g of carbohydrates, making it the lowest calorie-containing wine of the lot.
Riesling
One standard glass of summery Riesling contains up to 115 calories and an incredibly low carb content of 1.4 g overall. Perfect for those following keto or paleo diets!
Chenin Blanc
One glass of Chenin Blanc typically contains about 120 calories, which is quite low compared to red wines. However, its carbohydrate content is surprisingly high per glass, at around 4.4 g.
Pinot Grigio
A glass of Pinot Grigio contains 123 calories and an average of 3.8 g of carbs. It’s a very balanced white wine that can happily meet low-carb and low-cal diets.
Sweet wines
Due to their high sugar content, sweet wines like Port, Lambrusco, Moscato, and Sauternes are high in calories and carbohydrates. Remember: the sweeter and boozier the wine, the higher it is likely to be in calories and carbohydrates.
How Does Wine’s Carb And Calorie Content Compare To Other Alcoholic Beverages?
A great way to see how wine stacks up in terms of calories and carbs is to compare it to other popular liquors and alcoholic drinks:
- Low-carb beer: 2.6 g carbs
- Light beer: 5.9 g carbs
- Lager: 10.9 g carbs
- Margarita: 10.7 g carbs
- Mimosa: 12. 9 g carbs
- Vodka tonic: 15 g carbs
- Hard cider: 21.3 g carbs
Final Thoughts
The higher the sugar and alcohol content in a bottle of wine, the more likely it is to have a high calorie and carbohydrate content. While most wines have negligible differences in calorie and carb content, red wines tend to have higher quantities of both.
Keep this in mind when next enjoying a wine tasting, choosing a wine subscription, or pairing a bottle with a meal. In doing so, you can match your wines to your dietary preferences.