Units and calories in white wine

A glass of white wine might have more alcohol and calories in it than you would expect.

A typical strength (12% ABV) medium (175ml) glass of white wine has around 2.1 units of alcohol.¹ So, over a week, drinking more than six glasses of white wine would put you above the UK Chief Medical Officers' (CMOs’) low risk drinking guidelines of drinking no more than 14 units a week.²

Keeping an eye on how much you drink, and staying within the low risk drinking guidelines, has clear benefits for your long-term health. It could lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of long-term health problems, including seven types of cancer, liver and heart disease.³

Cutting down on drinking can benefit your waistline too. Alcohol contains around seven calories a gram – almost as many as a gram of fat.⁴

How much alcohol is in white wine?

It’s easy to see how much alcohol is in any white wine – just look for the Alcohol by Volume (ABV) which you’ll find on the label or ask at the bar.

The ABV tells you what percentage of the white wine is pure alcohol. For example, a 13% ABV white wine contains 13% pure alcohol.⁵

White wine’s typical strength means drinking three medium (175ml) glasses in one session could mean you’re consuming nearly six and a half units of alcohol, so could be classed as binge drinking (more than six units of alcohol for a woman, or eight for a man).^6,7

Research shows that binge drinking (between 5-7 units) over a three-to-six hour period increases your short-term risk of accidents and injuries by two to five times.⁸

How many calories are in white wine?

All alcohol – including the alcohol found in white wines like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or any other type – is made from natural starch and sugar. There are about 130 calories in a typical 175ml glass of white wine⁹ – more than you would find in a bag of ready salted crisps.¹⁰ That means that, over time, drinking too much can lead to weight gain and start to affect your appearance.¹¹

Alcohol lacks most essential nutrients and vitamins so if alcohol is providing most of the calories in your diet, then there is a risk of nutritional deficiencies.¹²

An easy way to cut your calorie intake from white wine is to choose an alcohol-free alternative, a lower strength wine or, if you’re having more than one glass, alternating between white wine and water. But, if choosing an alcohol-free or lower strength white wine, make sure to check the label and that it’s lower in calories than a standard wine.

Alcohol can have a variety of effects on your appearance, from the way your skin looks, to your weight and body odour.^13,14,15,16

Based on result from Nutracheck calorie checker, using the search term ‘white wine’.

Does white wine have more alcohol or calories than other types of wine?

Different types of wine – whether red, white, rosé or sparkling (like prosecco or champagne) – can vary a lot. They are typically around 11-14% ABV, although some can be as high as 14.5% ABV. The only way to be sure is to check the label.

Choosing lower strength wine can be a great way to cut out unnecessary alcohol and calories. And there are more ‘reduced alcohol’ wines available than ever before, in supermarkets and pubs. A ‘reduced alcohol’ white wine could be around 5.5% ABV (remember to check the label) – so would cut your alcohol consumption in half compared to an equivalent size glass of full-strength wine.

Even better for reducing your alcohol intake would be a ‘low alcohol’ white wine. These aren’t allowed to be more than 1.2% ABV,¹⁷ and many are around 0.5% ABV. 

Track your drinking. Try the free MyDrinkaware app