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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. A customer may also be picky, so this will help if you know how to sell wine.
We'll walk you through the most common wines and their caloric content below. At the end, we'll also give you 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 a 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 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 the different types of 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 (see also: how to pour wine).
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 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.
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 (see: ABV calculator).
Those tannins in red wine are also what causes 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 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 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 on 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.
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.
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. And to learn even more, read our blog post about the history of port 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.
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 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 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.
So There's That Many Calories in Wine!
Wine comes in so many wonderful varieties. 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.
In addition to sources like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you can also attempt to determine the caloric content yourself. Just use the simple formula below:
ABV x Ounces x 1.8
Now that you're in-the-know about the calories in wine, stick around and see if we can answer more of your questions. For example "is wine acidic?"