Calories in Wine – How Much is in a Glass?

For many of us, there’s nothing better than a nice soothing glass of wine at the end of a hectic day. But would you have that second or third glass if you knew how many calories you were knocking back?

Well, new research has actually revealed that the vast majority of us have no idea just how many calories are in our precious vino and unwittingly drink ourselves fatter in the process.

The highest calorie wines also tend to have the highest alcohol content which means plenty of other impacts on our bodies and general health. In fact, alcohol has seven calories per gram meaning sweet wines have fewer calories than dry wines.

Dry wine is commonly considered to range from around 11% alcohol to 14% so this might be one to limit your intake of.

Warm regions make more alcoholic wine

It’s true – warmer regions around the world tend to make wine with a higher alcohol content due to the sugar content converting to alcohol.

Dry wines with typically higher alcohol percentages are Zinfandel, Shiraz, Amarone , and Grenche-Syrah-Mouvedre (GSM).

Super high alcohol sweet wines like Port, Tawny Port, and Banyuls are a double whammy when it comes to sugar-carb calories plus alcohol calories so steer clear if you’re on a diet.

In fact, a standard glass of port contains 103 calories…which is fine if you only have the one!

Champagne and sparkling wines

It’s not a myth. Champagnes and sparkling wines really do have added sugar and alcohol. The added amount is traditionally known as “le dosage” and is added during the champagne making process.

The dosage can range from nothing to very sweet with up to 50g of sugar being added. However, with champagne wines being no more than 12.5% alcohol and non-champagne bubbly ranging from 9% to 15%, the average glass ranges from 124 to 175 calories.

Now that you know the facts and figures, it’s time to find out exactly what you’re consuming…

Drinking a glass of wine? Eat a doughnut

One unit of alcohol contains eight grams or 10ml of alcohol, providing you with 56 calories. Therefore, a large glass of white wine contains 180 calories, exactly the same as one doughnut.

Current UK Government guidelines for health and wellbeing suggest that women should not drink more than 2-3 units per day, while men shouldn’t exceed 3-4 units every day.

While a unit of alcohol contains 56 calories, a unit of 13% vino is worth 70 calories, meaning a 175ml glass is contributing 160 calories to your daily intake.

Want a Pina Colada? Get a cheeseburger

We’re all guilty of enjoying a Pina Colada while we’re sat in the sun however because spirits are more often than not accompanied by a soft drink – or a mixer – the sugar level is sky high. A Pina Colada actually contains a whopping 450 calories and for that you could just head down to your local burger bar and pick up a cheeseburger.

Among those adults who drink, it’s estimated that almost 10% of their daily calorie intake comes from alcoholic drinks like these.

Fancy a pint? Grab some strawberries

There’s nothing better than a cheeky pint of beer down your local on a Friday night but with a unit of 4% beer containing around 80 calories, with a pint adding 180 calories to your daily intake. This is equivalent to 90 small strawberries – imagine all that sugar!

Here is a list of some of the calories you can expect to find in your favorite wines:

German Spatlese Riesling (Dr. Hermann “H” 2009) – 110 calories per glass and 495 per bottle
Slightly Sweet Lambrusco (Lini 910) – 140 calories per glass and 630 per bottle
Cabernet Sauvignon from France – 160 calories per glass and 720 per bottle
German Auclese Riesling – 160 calories per glass and 720 per bottle
Cabernet Sauvignon from California – 175 calories per glass and 788 per bottle
California 16% Zinfandel (Bob Biale) – 190 calories per glass and 855 per bottle
Australian Shiraz (Mollydooker The Boxer) – 190 calories per glass and 855 per bottle
Chateau Y’quem – 270 calories per glass and 1215 per bottle
Ruby Port – 310 calories per glass and 1395 per bottle
Tawny Port – 320 calories per glass and 1440 per bottle

If you’re on a diet, don’t panic! You can simply skip dessert and use the calories to enjoy a nice large glass of wine. Oh, but if you have any medical issues, obviously check with your doctor first!

You can find a wide range of calorie-friendly wine options at Serenata!