Calories in Wine by Type

How Wine Calories Work: Alcohol + Residual Sugar

Every wine gets its calories from two sources: the alcohol produced during fermentation and any residual sugar that remains after fermentation stops. Understanding this two-part equation is the key to estimating the calorie content of any wine.

Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram. Since alcohol is the primary component of every wine, it is the dominant source of calories in most bottles. A wine at 13.5% ABV has more alcohol per glass than one at 11% ABV, which means more calories from ethanol alone -- even if both wines have zero residual sugar.

Residual sugar contributes 4 calories per gram. During fermentation, yeast converts grape sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. In a dry wine, the yeast consumes nearly all the sugar, leaving very little behind. In a sweet wine, fermentation is stopped early (or extra sugar is added), so significant sugar remains in the bottle. That leftover sugar adds calories on top of the alcohol calories.

Rule of thumb: A bone-dry wine at 12.5% ABV will have roughly 110-120 calories per 5 oz glass. Each additional percentage point of ABV adds about 10-12 calories, and each gram of residual sugar per glass adds 4 calories on top of that.

This is why a dry Sauvignon Blanc (12.5% ABV, under 3 g/L residual sugar) and a late-harvest Riesling (9% ABV, 80+ g/L residual sugar) can end up in completely different calorie brackets despite the Riesling having lower alcohol.

Red Wine Calories by Varietal

Red wines tend to have slightly higher ABV than whites, which means they carry slightly more calories per glass on average. Most dry reds fall in the 120-140 calorie range per 5 oz pour. The differences between varietals come down mainly to typical ABV and winemaking style.

Red Wine	Typical ABV	Calories (5 oz)	Carbs (g)	Residual Sugar
Pinot Noir	12.5 – 14%	120 – 130	3 – 4	Dry
Merlot	13 – 14.5%	125 – 135	3 – 4	Dry
Cabernet Sauvignon	13.5 – 15%	125 – 140	3 – 4	Dry
Malbec	13 – 14.5%	125 – 135	3 – 4	Dry
Zinfandel (red)	14 – 16%	135 – 155	4 – 5	Dry to off-dry

Pinot Noir is typically the lightest red by calorie count. It tends to have the lowest ABV of the major red varietals, and most producers ferment it fully dry. If you want a red wine with fewer calories, Pinot Noir is the safest default.

Zinfandel sits at the opposite end. California Zinfandels frequently reach 15% ABV or higher, and some carry a touch of residual sugar even when labeled as dry. That combination of high alcohol and potential sweetness pushes Zinfandel toward 150+ calories per glass.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec fall in the middle. Both are typically fermented dry, but their higher ABV compared to Pinot Noir adds roughly 10-15 calories per glass.

White Wine Calories by Varietal

White wines generally have lower ABV than reds, which gives them a slight calorie advantage per glass. The range is wider, though, because white wines span the full spectrum from bone-dry to very sweet.

White Wine	Typical ABV	Calories (5 oz)	Carbs (g)	Residual Sugar
Pinot Grigio	11.5 – 13%	110 – 122	2 – 3	Dry
Sauvignon Blanc	12 – 13.5%	115 – 125	2 – 3	Dry
Chardonnay (unoaked)	12.5 – 14%	118 – 130	2 – 4	Dry
Chardonnay (oaked)	13 – 14.5%	123 – 135	3 – 4	Dry
Riesling (dry)	11 – 13%	110 – 120	2 – 5	Dry
Riesling (sweet)	8 – 11%	130 – 165	10 – 18	Sweet
Moscato	5.5 – 9%	125 – 160	12 – 20	Sweet

Pinot Grigio and dry Riesling are the lowest calorie white wines you can choose. Both are typically fermented fully dry with modest ABV, putting them consistently under 120 calories per glass. Sauvignon Blanc is close behind.

Chardonnay varies more than most people expect. An unoaked Chardonnay from a cooler climate may sit at 12.5% ABV, while a big California or Australian oaked Chardonnay can reach 14.5%. That ABV difference alone accounts for 15-20 extra calories per glass.

Sweet Riesling and Moscato are the outliers. Despite their lower ABV, the high residual sugar pushes their calorie count above many dry reds. A glass of Moscato can contain 15-20 grams of carbs -- comparable to eating several spoonfuls of table sugar.

Key insight: Lower ABV does not always mean fewer calories. A sweet Riesling at 9% ABV can have more calories than a dry Cabernet at 14% because the sugar calories more than compensate for the lower alcohol content.

Sparkling Wine, Champagne, and Rose

Sparkling wines and rose occupy their own space on the calorie spectrum, and both are frequently misunderstood.

Wine Type	Typical ABV	Calories (5 oz)	Carbs (g)	Residual Sugar
Champagne (Brut)	12 – 12.5%	110 – 120	1 – 3	Very dry
Prosecco	11 – 12%	105 – 115	2 – 4	Dry to off-dry
Cava	11.5 – 12%	105 – 115	1 – 3	Dry
Rose (dry)	11.5 – 13.5%	110 – 125	2 – 4	Dry to off-dry

Champagne labeled "Brut" or "Extra Brut" is one of the lowest calorie wines available. Brut Champagne contains fewer than 12 grams of residual sugar per liter, and many Brut labels come in well under that. Combined with a moderate ABV around 12%, a 5 oz glass runs about 110-120 calories -- on par with the driest still whites.

Prosecco is similarly light. Most Prosecco is classified as "Extra Dry" (which, confusingly, is slightly sweeter than Brut), but the sugar difference is small. A typical glass of Prosecco comes in at 105-115 calories.

Rose calories depend entirely on how the wine is made. A dry Provence-style rose at 12% ABV is on the lighter side at 110-120 calories. A sweeter, darker rose from a warmer region can push toward 130-140. If the label says "dry" and the ABV is under 13%, you are in safe territory.

Watch out for "Demi-Sec" or "Doux" sparkling wines. These designations indicate progressively sweeter styles, and a Demi-Sec Champagne can contain 32-50 grams of sugar per liter -- adding meaningful calories over a Brut.

Dessert and Fortified Wines: The Calorie Heavyweights

Dessert wines and fortified wines are in a class by themselves when it comes to calorie density. They combine high sugar with moderate-to-high alcohol, and the standard pour is smaller for good reason.

Wine Type	Typical ABV	Calories (per serving)	Carbs (g)	Serving
Port (ruby/tawny)	19 – 22%	165 – 190	10 – 14	3 oz
Sherry (sweet)	15 – 20%	140 – 170	8 – 12	3 oz
Moscato d'Asti	5 – 6.5%	110 – 130	15 – 22	5 oz
Late Harvest Riesling	8 – 10%	155 – 185	16 – 24	5 oz
Sauternes	13 – 14%	170 – 200	16 – 22	3 oz
Ice Wine	9 – 13%	160 – 200	18 – 28	3 oz

Port is fortified with brandy during fermentation, which kills the yeast before it can consume all the sugar. The result is a wine that has both high alcohol (around 20%) and high residual sugar. Even in a smaller 3 oz pour, Port delivers 165-190 calories.

Late Harvest and Ice Wines use grapes picked at extreme ripeness (or after freezing), concentrating the sugar to levels far beyond table wine. These wines may have lower alcohol than Port, but the sugar content is enormous -- often 100-200+ grams per liter. A 5 oz glass of late harvest Riesling can pack more carbs than a candy bar.

The takeaway: If you are watching calories or carbs, dessert wines are the worst category in wine. A single 3 oz glass of Port or Sauternes can contain more calories than a full 5 oz glass of dry Pinot Grigio.

Wine and the C2AR Score

On GetDrunkNotFat, every drink is rated with a C2AR score (Calorie to Alcohol Ratio) that measures what percentage of the total calories come from alcohol versus sugar and other sources. This score is especially useful for comparing wines because it cuts through the confusion of ABV versus sweetness.

Dry wines score well -- typically in the B+ to A range -- because almost all of their calories come from alcohol with very little residual sugar adding empty carbs. A dry Pinot Grigio or Brut Champagne will score similarly to a light beer on C2AR, which makes them solid choices for calorie-conscious drinkers.

Sweet wines score poorly. A Moscato or Port may land in the C to D range because a large share of the calories are from sugar rather than alcohol. You are getting more calories per unit of alcohol, which is the opposite of what the C2AR metric rewards.

In practical terms, if you see a wine rated B+ or higher in the GetDrunkNotFat database, you can be confident that it is a dry or near-dry wine with minimal sugar calories. Browse the full wine rankings by C2AR score to compare specific bottles and varietals side by side.

Tips for Choosing Lower Calorie Wines

Armed with the calorie data above, here are practical guidelines for making smarter wine choices without sacrificing enjoyment.

Choose dry over sweet. This is the single biggest lever. A dry wine and a sweet wine at the same ABV can differ by 40-60 calories per glass, entirely due to residual sugar. Look for "Brut" on sparkling, and check that still wines do not describe themselves as "off-dry," "semi-sweet," or "sweet."
Watch the ABV. Within the dry wine category, lower ABV means fewer calories. A 12% Pinot Grigio will have roughly 15-20 fewer calories per glass than a 14.5% oaked Chardonnay. Check the label -- ABV is always printed on the bottle.
Stick to a 5 oz pour. A standard wine glass holds 5 oz, but many restaurants pour 6-8 oz, and at home it is easy to pour even more. An extra ounce or two adds 25-50 calories per glass and accumulates quickly over a meal.
Sparkling wines are underrated. Brut Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava are among the lowest calorie wines per glass. The carbonation also tends to slow your drinking pace, which helps with overall intake.
Avoid dessert wines as a default. Reserve Port, Sauternes, and late-harvest wines for special occasions rather than regular consumption. Even a small pour packs a caloric punch.
Be skeptical of "low-calorie wine" marketing. Some brands market wines as low-calorie (80-90 calories per glass) by simply reducing the ABV to 8-9% and fermentation to dry. You can achieve the same result by pouring a smaller glass of any dry wine at normal ABV.
Red versus white is a smaller difference than you think. The gap between a dry red and a dry white is typically only 10-15 calories per glass. Sweetness level and ABV matter far more than color.

The Complete Wine Calorie Reference Table

Here is every major wine type in one table, sorted from lowest to highest calories per standard serving. Use this as a quick reference when deciding what to order.

Wine Type	ABV	Calories	Carbs (g)	Sugar Level
Prosecco (5 oz)	11 – 12%	105 – 115	2 – 4	Dry
Pinot Grigio (5 oz)	11.5 – 13%	110 – 122	2 – 3	Dry
Dry Riesling (5 oz)	11 – 13%	110 – 120	2 – 5	Dry
Champagne Brut (5 oz)	12 – 12.5%	110 – 120	1 – 3	Very dry
Rose, dry (5 oz)	11.5 – 13.5%	110 – 125	2 – 4	Dry
Sauvignon Blanc (5 oz)	12 – 13.5%	115 – 125	2 – 3	Dry
Chardonnay (5 oz)	12.5 – 14.5%	118 – 135	2 – 4	Dry
Pinot Noir (5 oz)	12.5 – 14%	120 – 130	3 – 4	Dry
Merlot (5 oz)	13 – 14.5%	125 – 135	3 – 4	Dry
Malbec (5 oz)	13 – 14.5%	125 – 135	3 – 4	Dry
Moscato (5 oz)	5.5 – 9%	125 – 160	12 – 20	Sweet
Sweet Riesling (5 oz)	8 – 11%	130 – 165	10 – 18	Sweet
Cabernet Sauvignon (5 oz)	13.5 – 15%	125 – 140	3 – 4	Dry
Zinfandel (5 oz)	14 – 16%	135 – 155	4 – 5	Dry to off-dry
Port (3 oz)	19 – 22%	165 – 190	10 – 14	Sweet/fortified

Calorie and carb values are approximate ranges based on typical commercial examples. Exact numbers vary by producer, vintage, and region. For specific wines in the GetDrunkNotFat database, each entry has precise calorie and carb data along with its C2AR score.