Units and calories in wine

Whether you prefer red wine, white wine, rosé wine, Champagne or Prosecco, understanding how much alcohol and how many calories are in your drink can help you make informed choices.

Alcohol content varies between different types of wine and serving sizes, and wines with a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) typically contain more alcohol units and calories. Checking the ABV on the label is an easy way to understand the strength of your drink and keep track of your alcohol intake.

Cutting down on drinking can benefit your waistline too. Alcohol contains almost as many calories as pure fat (around seven calories a gram).¹   

How much alcohol is in wine?

The amount of alcohol in wine depends on its strength, measured as Alcohol by Volume (ABV), and the size of the serving. Most still wines, including red, white and rosé wine, are typically between 11% and 14% ABV, while sparkling wines such as Champagne and Prosecco are usually around 12% ABV.

How many units are in a glass of wine?

As a general guide, a standard 175ml glass of still wine contains just over 2 units of alcohol, while a 125ml glass of sparkling wine contains around 1.5 units. The higher the ABV, the more alcohol the drink contains.

How many units are in a bottle of wine?

Most bottles of wine contain 750ml, which is equivalent to just over four medium glasses (175ml). A typical bottle contains around 9 to 10 units of alcohol, although this can vary depending on the ABV.

Wine isn't always served in standard measures. Larger or smaller bottles, carafes and generous home pours can all affect how many units you're drinking. It can also be harder to keep track of your alcohol intake when someone else is topping up your glass. This might happen at a dinner party, while sharing a bottle at home, or during events where drinks are regularly refilled, such as a bottomless brunch.

In these situations, it's easy to lose track of serving sizes and alcohol units without realising. If you're unsure how much you've had to drink, use our Unit and Calorie Calculator below to estimate the units and calories in your drinks based on their strength and serving size.

Does the strength of wine vary?

You can find the ABV on the bottle label or wine list, making it easy to compare the strength of different wines. Some wines can be stronger than average, with ABVs reaching 14.5% or more, while lower-strength alternatives may be around 5.5% ABV.

Wine’s typical strength means drinking a bottle in one session would usually be classed as ‘binge drinking’ (more than six units of alcohol in a single session for a woman, or eight for a man).²   You can learn more about the risks of binge drinking in the related information below.

Research shows that binge drinking over a three-to-six-hour period increases your short-term risk of accidents and injuries by two to five times.³

How many calories are in wine?

All alcohol – including the alcohol in wine, whether it’s red, white, rosé, or sparkling like prosecco or champagne - is made from natural starch and sugar. That means a large glass (250ml) has the same number of calories as a wafer ice cream cone with a flake (190 calories).⁴

What’s more, calories from alcohol are 'empty calories', meaning they have no nutritional value, they don’t benefit our bodies in any way. So, over time, drinking too much can lead to weight gain and start to affect how you look.

The number of alcohol units and calories in a drink depends on both its strength (ABV) and serving size. That means two glasses of the same wine can contain different amounts of alcohol and calories. Use our Unit and Calorie Calculator below to see how your drinks add up.

Tips to reduce the amount of wine you drink

If you're looking to cut back on wine, small changes can make a big difference.

• Choose a smaller glass: Opt for a 125ml or 175ml serving instead of a large glass, and measure pours at home where possible.

• Take drink-free days: Building a few alcohol-free days into your week can help reduce your overall intake.

• Try a lower-strength wine: Lower-strength and alcohol-free wines are more widely available than ever. Some lower-strength wines are around 5.5% ABV⁵, meaning the same size glass could contain around half the alcohol of a typical full-strength wine.

• Slow your pace: Take your time to enjoy the flavour of your wine rather than rushing through a glass.

• Alternate your drinks: Switch between wine and water, sparkling water or a soft drink to help your drinks last longer and stay hydrated.

Next steps:

Knowing how many units are in your drinks is only the first step to improving your health and wellbeing. Home drinking is now the most common way adults in the UK consume alcohol⁶, so cutting down the amount you have at home can be a good way to stick to the low risk drinking guidelines.

How to cut down on alcohol at home

In the MyDrinkaware app, you can adjust the ABV of your drinks to track exactly what you're drinking. Find out more