How many calories in a glass of wine?
Quick answer
A standard 150 ml glass of wine contains between 80 and 130 kcal. Dry red averages about 120 kcal, dry white about 105 kcal, and brut Champagne about 95 kcal.
Detailed answer
Wine calories come from two main sources: ethyl alcohol (7 kcal/g) and residual sugar (4 kcal/g). A dry wine has very little residual sugar (under 4 g/L), so most of its energy comes from ethanol.
The rough formula is straightforward: volume (ml) x ABV (%) x 0.8 = approximate calories. So 150 ml x 13% x 0.8 = 156 kcal in theory. In practice, absorption and metabolism lower this figure, and nutritional tables typically show 110-130 kcal for a 13-14% red.
Residual sugar makes a big difference in sweet wines. A Sauternes at 13% ABV with 120 g/L residual sugar can hit 200 kcal per glass. On the flip side, a dry Muscadet at 12% barely exceeds 90 kcal.
According to USDA data (FoodData Central, 2023), generic red wine provides 83 kcal per 100 ml, white 82 kcal, and rose 83 kcal. Scaled to a 150 ml pour, that comes to roughly 125, 123, and 125 kcal respectively.
If you are watching your calorie intake, brut Champagne and light dry whites (Vinho Verde, Muscadet, Picpoul de Pinet) are the lowest-calorie options, typically under 100 kcal per glass.