How Many Calories Are in a Glass of Wine?

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Key Takeaways

• A standard 150 ml glass of dry red or white wine usually contains around 110–140 calories (roughly 460–580 kJ).
• Alcohol is the main source of calories in most wines, so higher-alcohol wines generally contain more calories.
• Residual sugar adds calories too, which is why sweet and fortified wines are higher in calories per millilitre.
• Choosing dry, lighter-bodied or lower-alcohol styles and pouring smaller glasses are the simplest ways to enjoy wine with fewer calories.

 

Whether you're keeping an eye on your energy intake or simply curious about what's in your glass, it's a fair question: how many calories are in a glass of wine? The answer depends less on the colour of the wine and more on two things you can usually check on the label: its alcohol content and how sweet it is.

Unlike most food and drink, wine bottles in Australia rarely list nutrition information, so the calorie count isn't always obvious. The good news is that a few simple rules make it easy to estimate.

Here's how many calories you'll typically find in red, white, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines, what makes some wines higher in calories than others, and how to choose a lighter glass without compromising on flavour.

How Many Calories Are in a Standard Glass of Wine?

A standard 150 ml glass of dry wine at around 13% alcohol contains roughly 120 calories, or about 500 kilojoules. Most dry red, white and rosé wines fall somewhere between 110 and 140 calories per glass, while sweeter and higher-alcohol wines sit at the upper end of the range or beyond.

In Australia, energy is usually measured in kilojoules (kJ) rather than calories. One calorie (kcal) is equal to about 4.2 kJ, so a 120-calorie glass of wine contains roughly 500 kJ. Both measurements are included throughout this guide.

What Determines the Calories in Wine?

Wine contains no fat and very little protein, so almost all of its energy comes from two sources: alcohol and sugar. The size of your pour then decides how much of both you're drinking.

Alcohol Content

Alcohol provides around 7 calories (29 kJ) per gram, almost as much as fat. That makes alcohol content the biggest single factor in how many calories a wine contains. A glass of wine at 14.5% alcohol will contain noticeably more calories than the same pour of a wine at 11.5%, even if both taste dry.

You'll find the alcohol content, shown as a percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV), on every Australian wine label, along with the number of standard drinks in the bottle.

Residual Sugar

Residual sugar is the natural grape sugar left in a wine after fermentation. It provides about 4 calories per gram. Dry wines contain very little, usually just a few grams per litre, so sugar contributes only a small share of their calories. Sweeter styles can contain many times more, which adds up quickly. If you're unsure where a wine sits, our guide to sweet vs dry wine explains how to tell the difference.

Glass Size

A standard restaurant pour of wine is 150 ml, but glasses poured at home are often larger. It's also worth knowing that an Australian standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol, so a 150 ml glass of wine at 13.5% is around 1.6 standard drinks rather than one.

Calories in Wine by Style

The figures below are estimates for a typical glass of each style, calculated from common alcohol levels and typical sugar content. Individual wines vary, so treat them as a helpful guide rather than an exact measurement.

 

Does Red Wine Have More Calories Than White Wine?

Not necessarily. Colour has very little to do with calories. What matters is alcohol content and sweetness, and those vary widely within both red and white wine.

That said, many full-bodied reds are made from fully ripened grapes in warm climates, which tends to result in higher alcohol levels. A rich Barossa Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon at 14.5% will generally contain more calories than a crisp, dry Riesling at 11.5%. On the other hand, a lighter-bodied Pinot Noir can contain fewer calories than a full-bodied, oak-aged Chardonnay.

If calories are a priority, compare the alcohol percentage on the label rather than choosing between red wine and white wine alone.

How Many Calories Are in Sparkling Wine and Champagne?

Sparkling wine is often one of the lighter options in the glass. Many sparkling wines sit between 11% and 12.5% alcohol, and Brut styles contain only a small amount of sugar, so a 150 ml glass usually contains around 100–115 calories. Served in a traditional 125 ml flute, that drops to roughly 85–95 calories.

Sweetness levels on a sparkling wine label offer a useful clue. Brut Nature and Extra Brut are the driest styles, followed by Brut, while Extra Dry, Sec and Demi-Sec are progressively sweeter and higher in calories. Explore our range of Champagne and sparkling wine or Prosecco, or learn more in our guide to everything there is to know about sparkling wine.

Why Are Sweet and Dessert Wines Higher in Calories?

Sweet wines combine residual sugar with alcohol, and fortified wines such as Port and Muscat add extra alcohol as well. This is why dessert wines are usually served in smaller 60–75 ml glasses. A modest 75 ml serve can contain as many calories as a full glass of dry table wine.

Moscato is an interesting exception. It's noticeably sweet, but its low alcohol content, often between 5.5% and 7.5%, keeps the calorie count in a similar range to a glass of dry white wine. To find out more about these styles, read our simple guide to dessert wine.

How Many Calories Are in a Bottle of Wine?

A standard 750 ml bottle holds five 150 ml glasses. For a dry wine at around 13% alcohol, that works out to roughly 600 calories (about 2,550 kJ) per bottle. A full-bodied red at 15% alcohol can reach close to 700 calories, while a lighter white at 11.5% may contain closer to 550.

If you're opening a bottle but not finishing it, storing it properly helps it stay fresh for another day. Our guides on how to store wine properly and whether wine expires explain how long an opened bottle lasts.

How to Choose a Lower-Calorie Wine

Enjoying wine with fewer calories doesn't mean giving up on quality. A few simple choices make a real difference:

●  Check the alcohol percentage. It's the most reliable indicator of calories on any wine label. Wines at 11–12.5% alcohol are generally lighter than those at 14% and above.

●  Choose dry styles. Dry whites such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio, dry rosé and Brut sparkling wines are naturally low in sugar.

●  Look for cooler-climate wines. Grapes grown in cooler regions often produce wines with lower alcohol and fresher acidity.

●  Watch your pour. Measuring a 150 ml glass, or using smaller glassware, helps you keep track of how much you're drinking.

●  Try alcohol-free wine. With most of the alcohol removed, non-alcoholic wine contains a fraction of the calories of regular wine.

Wine, Calories and Moderation

Calories are only one part of the picture. Australian guidelines from the National Health and Medical Research Council recommend that healthy adults drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol. Checking the standard drinks figure on the label makes it easier to stay within those limits.

This guide is general information only. If you have specific health or dietary needs, speak with your doctor or an accredited practising dietitian.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Wine Has the Fewest Calories?

Dry, lower-alcohol wines generally contain the fewest calories. Brut Nature sparkling wine, dry Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and dry rosé are among the lighter choices, usually around 100–120 calories per 150 ml glass. Alcohol-free wine is lower again.

Does Dry Wine Contain Sugar?

Most dry wines contain a small amount of residual sugar, typically just a few grams per litre. This contributes only a few calories to each glass, which is why alcohol content matters far more than sugar in dry wine.

Does Wine Contain Carbohydrates?

Yes, but only in small amounts for dry wine, usually around 2–4 grams per glass. Sweet and dessert wines contain considerably more because of their higher sugar levels.

Is Wine Higher in Calories Than Beer?

A 150 ml glass of dry wine and a 375 ml can of full-strength beer contain a similar number of calories, generally in the range of 110–150 depending on the drink. Light beers and lower-alcohol wines both sit towards the lower end.

Enjoy Wine Your Way

The number of calories in a glass of wine comes down to alcohol, sweetness and serving size. Dry, lighter-bodied and lower-alcohol wines tend to be the lightest, while full-bodied reds, sweet wines and fortified styles contain more. By checking the label and watching your pour, it's easy to choose a wine that suits your preferences.

Browse World Wine's range of white wine, rosé, sparkling wine and non-alcoholic wine to find your next bottle. For personalised recommendations, Contact Us and our team will be happy to help.