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Wine

Get the facts on exactly what goes into your glass of wine

The table below shows the calories, units and ABV of wine.

Wine	ABV (alcohol by volume)	Calories	Units
Standard 175ml glass of wine	13%	134	2.3
Large 250ml glass of wine	13%	191	3.3
750ml bottle of wine	13%	573	9.8

What are the daily unit guidelines for wine?

The government advises that people should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol for men (equivalent to a large (250ml) glass of 13% wine) and 2-3 units of alcohol for women (equivalent to a 175ml glass of wine).

As you can see from the chart, a large glass of 13% wine puts a woman over the daily guidelines. Another small glass will put men over the guidelines too.

If you regularly drink over these guidelines, you could be increasing your chances of developing long-term health conditions. Find out more about the effects of alcohol.

Check the strength of your wine

Checking wine’s ABV (alcohol by volume) will give you a guide to how strong it is. The ABV tells you what percentage of the drink is made up of alcohol. For example, wine with 12% ABV is 12% pure alcohol. The higher the percentage, the more alcohol is present. In this sense, it’s better to opt for lower ABV wines.

How two glasses of wine have as many calories as one beef burger

Alcohol is made by fermenting and distilling natural starch and sugar. This means that wine contains a lot of calories. For instance, two large glasses of wine can contain the same calories as a beef burger. Wine, like any kind of alcohol, can stimulate the appetite and make calorific post-pub fare like kebabs and chips look really appealing.

For more facts: find out if alcohol is making you fat

Things you can do right now to reduce the amount of wine you are drinking

As you can see from the chart, one large glass of wine can put you over the recommended guidelines for the day. To stay on track, try out some of these simple tips.

1. Mind your measures If you’re used to drinking large glasses of wine, try switching to smaller measures like a standard-sized glass. Remember to check the volume too. Wines with higher ABV have more alcohol and units. If you’re drinking at home, swap those cavernous 250ml wine glasses for a set of 125ml ones.

2. Tackle your triggers If you always have a glass of wine to celebrate a good day at work, or commiserate a bad one, try doing something else instead. An alcohol-free dinner out makes an easy feel-good treat, while a gym session is a great way to relieve stress.

3. Avoid drinking every day Give your body a good rest by making some nights each week wine-free. Not only will it mean you feel great in the morning – your liver will thank you for it too.

4. Treat yourself Trade up to a special bottle of wine that’s expensive enough to encourage you to saviour it over a few days, rather than down it all in one night. This way, you’ll space out the units you’re consuming.

5. Track your drinking over time If you choose to drink, recording exactly what you’ve drunk during the week will give you a great idea of whether you’re within the guidelines. MyDrinkaware our new web-based drink tracking tool is perfect for this.

Discover more practical ways to cut back on wine with our tips on cutting down.

Did you know?

Women choose and buy eight out of every 10 bottles of wine that are drunk at home (1)

But worryingly, 51% of them are taking little or no notice of government health warnings (2). That’s despite the greater risk women have of contracting breast cancer or liver disease if they regularly drink over the daily guidelines.

Fact or fantasy? Red wine is good for the heart

Fact AND fantasy: Alcohol can be good and bad for the heart. Beyond the recommended limits, alcohol’s potential benefits are outweighed by the risk of getting other illnesses, such as liver disease or cancer.

Find out more about alcohol and the heart

Popular wine brands and varieties sold in the UK

Asti Spumante
Banrock Station
Barefoot
Blossom Hill
Champagne
Chardonnay
Echo Falls
Gallo
Hardys
Jacob’s Creek
Kumala
Lindemans
Pinot Noir
Rioja
Stowells of Chelsea
Wolf Blass

A potted history of...wine

Historians think wine dates back to 6000 BC when it was discovered by accident in the Middle East. Produced by fermenting grapes, home-grown wine’s popularity eventually spread to Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain and France. Back then, some rulers tried to keep wine a secret. That’s hard to believe now – the British are overtaking the French, Germans and Italians in their spending on wine, which will soon make the UK the biggest retail wine market in Europe (3).

References

1.) http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/02/wine-sales-women

2.)2009 survey conducted by Vinexpo

3.) http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=187803

Understanding unit guidelines

You should not regularly exceed…

Women: 2–3 units daily
Men: 3–4 units daily

The government advises that women should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 2–3 units, or…

3 × 25ml shots of whiskey
1.3 × 175ml glasses of white wine
1.3 pints of 4% lager

The government advises that men should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3–4 units, or…

4 × 25ml shots of whiskey
1.7 × 175ml glasses of white wine
1.7 pints of 4% lager