- Entertaining
The alcohol content in the wine you drink may be higher than you think.
By
Betty Gold
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pancake-secret-ingredient-gluten-stco-1-e8e03be656eb4611afa15b017f4ed715.jpg "Here's How Much Alcohol Is in Every Type of Wine, From Lowest to Highest (1)")
Betty Gold
Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple.
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Updated on September 11, 2023
Medically reviewed by
Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN
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Medically reviewed byKristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN
Kristy Del Coro is a registered dietitian nutritionist, RDN, and professionally trained chef with more than 10 years of experience in the field of culinary nutrition. Her strong background in nutrition science, sustainable food systems, and culinary education makes her exceptionally qualified to write about food that is good for us and the planet—while not sacrificing flavor.
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Fact checked by
Isaac Winter
Fact checked byIsaac Winter
Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years.
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In This Article
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In This Article
- Overview
- Sparkling Wine
- Rosé
- White Wine
- Red Wine
- Increased ABV Trend
- FAQs
Did you know that wine alcohol content varies by brand and type of wine? Knowing how much alcohol is in each wine bottle can be beneficial for estimating the wine's flavor profile and, of course, tracking how much alcohol you're consuming. The wine alcohol percentage can also help you know how long your wine will last so you can store your wine appropriately.
Though alcohol content varies from wine to wine, in general, you'll find that sparkling and rosé wines are on the lower end of the spectrum, white wines tend to be in the middle, and red wines tend to have a higher alcohol percentage. We spoke with a wine expert who helped us understand more about the potency of various wines. Here's a guide to wines with very low, moderately low, high, and very high alcohol content. Cheers to whatever style suits you!
Marnie Old is the former director of wine studies at the French Culinary Institute in New York City and co-author of He Said Beer, She Said Wine.
What Is ABV?
Alcohol levels in wine are directly correlated with the amount of sugar that developed in the grapes at harvest time: the higher the sugar levels, the higher the potential alcohol. Higher sugar levels don't mean that higher-alcohol wines are sweeter, though sometimes this is the case. Rather, yeast consumes the sugar and converts it into alcohol during fermentation.
ABV Defined
The degree of alcohol in any given glass of wine is equivalent to its percentage by volume and is often referred to as "ABV" (or alcohol by volume).
Key Factors
There are a few key factors in determining both the sugar content of the grapes and the amount of alcohol in your bottle.
- The style (or varietal) of wine.
- The climate where the grapes were grown.
- The winemaking/fermentation process.
The average glass of wine contains about 11 percent to 13 percent alcohol, but bottles range from as little as 5.5 percent ABV to as much as around 20 percent ABV. By comparison, a standard beer can contains about 5 percent alcohol and a 1 1/2 ounce shot of distilled spirits can contain about 40 percent alcohol.
When tasting wine, you'll notice alcohol comes through as heat in the back of your mouth or throat. A higher ABV wine will taste warmer and bolder, almost like a slight burning sensation on your palate.
Consider a low-alcohol wine if you want to cut back on the amount of alcohol you consume while still enjoying a glass with your meal.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/alcohol-content-wine-realsimple-c5fce1e458f2434a8dd2c96040d3dfc9.jpeg "Here's How Much Alcohol Is in Every Type of Wine, From Lowest to Highest (3)")
Sparkling Wine Alcohol Content
Fizzing with bubbles, sparkling wine refers to any carbonated wine. Though Champagne is probably the most popular, sparkling wine can be white, red, or rosé.
| Wine | ABV |
| Italian Asti | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| Italian Prosecco | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| French Crémant | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| Pétillant Naturel | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| California Sparkling Wine | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| French Champagne | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Spanish Cava | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Sekt | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Franciacorta | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
Rosé Wine Alcohol Content
Right in between red and white wine, rosé wine is pink in color. Instead of fermenting for weeks with red grape skins, rosé wine comes into contact with the grape skins for a few hours, giving it a lighter hue.
| Wine | ABV |
| California White Zinfandel | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| Portuguese Rosés | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| French Rosés | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Spanish Rosés | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
White Wine Alcohol Content
Made with white grapes, white wine is not fermented with grape skins. By removing the skins before the fermentation process, less color is transferred to the wine.
| Wine | ABV |
| French Vouvray and Muscadet | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| German Riesling | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| Portuguese Vinho Verde | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| Spanish Txakoli | Very Low; under 12.5 percent |
| Austrian Grüner Veltliner | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Australian Riesling | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| French Alsace White | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| French Loire and Bordeaux Whites | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| French White Burgundy | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Italian Pinot Grigio | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| New York Riesling | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Oregon Pinot Gris | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| South African Sauvignon Blanc | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Spanish Albarino | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Australian Chardonnay | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| California Chardonnay | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| California Pinot Gris | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| California Sauvignon Blanc | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| California Viognier | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| Chilean Chardonnay | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| French Sauternes | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| South African Chenin Blanc | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| French Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise (fortified) | Very High; more than 14.5 percent |
| Portuguese Madeira (fortified) | Very High; more than 14.5 percent |
| Spanish Sherry (fortified) | Very High; more than 14.5 percent |
Red Wine Alcohol Content
Unlike white wine, red wine is made with dark-colored grapes, such as red or black. The skin and seeds are left in during fermentation, providing red wine its rich color.
| Wine | ABV |
| French Beaujolais and Burgundy | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| French Bordeaux | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Italian Chianti | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Spanish Rioja | Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent |
| Argentine Malbec | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| Australian Shiraz | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| California Cabernet Sauvignon | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| California Pinot Noir | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| California Syrah | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| Chilean Merlot | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| French Rhône Red | High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent |
| Italian Barolo | High (13.5 to 14.5 Percent) |
| California Petite Sirah | Very High; more than 14.5 percent |
| California Zinfandel | Very High; more than 14.5 percent |
| Italian Amarone | Very High; more than 14.5 percent |
| Portuguese Port (fortified) | Very High; more than 14.5 percent |
Makers are Increasing Wine Alcohol Content
According to experts, the alcohol content of wine has spiked considerably over the years. "There's pressure on winemakers from critics for intense flavors, and that means riper grapes," explains wine expert Marnie Old. "So during the past few years, winemakers have been leaving grapes on the vines well after they would typically be picked, [translating] into fuller-bodied wines and more alcohol."
Thanks to scientific advances in farming, it's now less risky to postpone a harvest. Warmer climates also play a role, so a riesling from California will be much more potent than a traditional one from a cooler region, like Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a glass of wine stronger than a glass of beer?
On average, wine tends to be about 50 percent stronger than most beers. Many factors are involved, including the size of the glass and the type of beer or wine being served. Wine also enters the bloodstream faster than beer, meaning you will feel the effects quicker.
Is wine stronger than regular alcohol?
One standard drink in the United States has roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol. This amount of alcohol can be found in approximately 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. A lot depends on what you drink and how much you consume, but for the most part, one ounce of wine will be stronger than one ounce of beer.
Is there a lot of sugar in wine?
Wine can have a decent amount of sugar, depending on the type of wine, where it was made, and how much you drink. And, the amount of alcohol in wine depends on how much sugar was produced while harvesting. Generally, five ounces of red table wine contains about 0.9 grams of sugar, while the same amount of white table wine contains 1.4 grams of sugar.
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Sources
Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. What is a Standard Drink? Date Accessed April 29, 2022.
Paton A. Alcohol in the body. BMJ. 2005 Jan 8;330(7482):85-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.330.7482.85. PMID: 15637372; PMCID: PMC543875.
USDA, FoodData Central. Accessed [August 23, 2023].
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