How Many Calories are in a Bottle of Red Wine?

Tom Bell
How Many Calories are in a Bottle of Red Wine?

 Drinkwell is the home of lower-calorie alcohol. We are passionate about helping you make informed decisions and bringing delicious, zero-sugar, lower-calorie wines from around the globe to the UK market.

Sipping on a nice glass of red wine after a long week is a way for many of us to relax. Red wine is also the perfect partner to many of our favourite dishes, but just how many calories are there in a bottle of red wine? In this blog, we go over the calories in various types of red wines and some delicious lower calorie red wine options that you can enjoy guilt-free!

So, how many calories are in a bottle of red wine? The exact amount of calories found in a bottle of red wine can fluctuate depending on the type of wine. In our research, we found that, typically, calories in widely available red wines will range from 101 - 114 calories per 125 glass (between 606 and 684 calories per bottle). DrinkWell’s selection of wines from around the world, can offer savings of up to 20% on these average calorie scores.

We all know that alcohol is best enjoyed in moderation, but we don’t always consider the impact a bottle of red can have on our waistline. Keep reading to make a more informed decision next time you buy a bottle of red wine.

How many calories are in red wine on average?

It is no secret that red wine can contain large amounts of calories. The exact amount of calories found in red wine can vary widely between types of wine and different brands, just like the alcohol content does. In our research, we found that typically, the calorie content in widely available red wines will range from 101 to 114 calories per 125 glass (between 606 and 684 calories per bottle). 

According to drinkware, a standard 175ml glass of 13% ABV red wine can contain as many as 160 calories, meaning that some bottles of red wine could contain up to 680 calories. That’s the equivalent of almost two and a half jam doughnuts! To put that into perspective, the average person would need to run over 6 miles to burn off the calories from a bottle of red wine.

However, red wines with lower alcohol content can contain significantly fewer calories than this.

What Type of Red Wine Contains the Most Calories?

The calorie content varies between different types of red wine. Below are some examples of calories typically found in a bottle of popular types of red wine:

Zinfandel

Calories Per Bottle
(750ml)		 Calories Per Large Glass
(250ml)		 Calories Per Small Glass
(125ml)
655 218 109

Our recommended lower calorie alternative: Debajo Dry Farmed Carignan (83 calories per 125 ml)

Burgundy

Calories Per Bottle
(750ml)		 Calories Per Large Glass
(250ml)		 Calories Per Small Glass
(125ml)
645 215 108
Our recommended lower calorie alternative: Pico a Pico Carmenere Merlot (86 calories per 125 ml)

Sangiovese

Calories Per Bottle
(750ml)		 Calories Per Large Glass
(250ml)		 Calories Per Small Glass
(125ml)
640 213 107
Our recommended lower calorie Sangiovese: Ancora Sangiovese IGT Puglia, 2019 (88 calories per 125 ml)

Barbera

Calories Per Bottle
(750ml)		 Calories Per Large Glass
(250ml)		 Calories Per Small Glass
(125ml)
635 212 106
Our recommended lower calorie Barbera: Crocera Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2019 (90 calories per 125 ml)

Cabernet

Calories Per Bottle
(750ml)		 Calories Per Large Glass
(250ml)		 Calories Per Small Glass
(125ml)
620 207 103
Our recommended lower calorie Cabernet: Tierra Antica Cabernet Sauvignon (86 calories per 125 ml)

Pinot Noir

Calories Per Bottle
(750ml)		 Calories Per Large Glass
(250ml)		 Calories Per Small Glass
(125ml)
615 205 103
Our recommended lower calorie Pinot Noir: Sunny With a Chance of Flowers - Pinot Noir (64 calories per 125 ml)

What Colour Wine Has the Most Calories?

In DrinkWell's research, where we looked into the nutritional value of 22 supermarket wines, we found that, on average, red wine contained the highest amount of calories of all the bottles tested.

Also within our research, we discovered that:

  • Rose wine has on average around 91 - 92 calories per 125 ml
  • White wine has 98 - 99 calories per 125 ml
  • Red wine tends to contain between 104 - 105 calories per 125 ml.


This can be explained by the fact that red wine tends to have a higher alcohol content, and wines with a higher alcohol content will usually contain more calories than wines with a lower alcohol content. This is because lower-alcohol wines have more carbohydrates or protein by volume. Alcohol alone has seven calories per gram, whilst carbohydrates and proteins have four calories. With this in mind, European wines tend to be lower in calories due to production laws leading to lower alcohol levels.

Sugar in Wines Can Also Affect the Calories

In addition to checking the alcohol content in wines, sugar can also have an impact. If a low-alcohol wine has a high sugar content, this will usually offset the calorie saving you might be looking for. Unfortunately, many brands of wine don’t discuss the amounts of calories or sugar in wine on their packaging and this information isn’t always easy to find.

DrinkWell will always give you this information for every bottle of wine on our website, ensuring that you can make a more educated and informed decision about how much sugar and how many calories are in your bottle of red wine.

    DrinkWell Red Wines

    If the calorie contents mentioned so far in this blog have made you feel guilty about your favourite drink, DrinkWell may be able to help. Here at DrinkWell, we stock a wide range of lower-calorie red wines that don’t compromise on quality or flavour. In our laboratory research, we found that the compared wines' calories were generally around 10 - 20% more than DrinkWell wines.

    As well as offering reduced calories, many of our red wines are also low sugar, organic and vegan friendly. Below are a few of our current favourites:

    Pour Le Vin ‘Faim de Loup’ Syrah, Pays d’Oc 2020

    Serving size 125ml

    • Calories per serving: 86
    • Total Sugar: 0g
    • Alcohol by volume: 13.5%


    This gluten-free wine has pronounced aromas of juicy plum, cherry and blackberry making it a delicious and refreshing glass. The palate is soft and spicy with delicious mouthfuls of succulent, ripe berry fruit flavours with hints of coffee and spice and a note of violet on the finish. It is fantastic paired with traditional family-style dishes such as a roast or french casserole. This delicious red wine is a great lower-calorie option, with just 86 calories per 125ml glass. It is currently on the DrinkWell website for just £10.49.

    Sunny With a Chance of Flowers - Pinot Noir

    Serving size 125ml

    • Calories per serving: 64
    • Total Sugar: 0g
    • Alcohol by volume: 9%


    This delicious red wine is produced by America's number 1 lifestyle wine brand and is packed with succulent flavours. This riveting red wine has punchy aromas of sweet black cherries which kick on the palate which is then followed by pomegranate and a hint of toasted oak. With just 64 calories per 125ml glass, this wine pairs fabulously with BBQ dishes perfectly balancing those smoky flavours. We currently have it on sale for just £13.99.

    El Ninot de Paper Tinto

    Serving size 125ml

    • Calories per serving: 79
    • Total Sugar: 0g
    • Alcohol by volume: 12.5%


    This fruity red wine is produced with an eye-catching design inspired by its Spanish heritage. The 'El Ninot de Paper' name is inspired by the 'paper dolls' of the Las Fallas de Valencia festival when puppets are paraded around town, made of paper maché. This Spanish red has bright base notes of juicy plum, black fruits, and oak due to its ageing wine process. A lighter-bodied wine it also has finishing notes of black pepper which is balanced out with gentle acidity and soft tannins. Containing just 79 calories per 125ml glass, this red wine is on sale now for just £8.99.

    Running Duck Organic Shiraz

    This Serving size 125ml

    • Calories per serving: 79
    • Total Sugar: 0g
    • Total Carbohydrates: 0g
    • Alcohol by volume: 13.5%


    This wine is produced by Stellar Organics, which is one of South Africa's largest organic wine producers and is the leading ethical wine brand in the UK. The vineyards are patrolled as organically as possible assisted by Indian Runner ducks, which act as natural pest removers. This Shiraz is spicy and concentrated with savoury notes of white pepper, and best of all contains just 79 calories per 125ml glass. You can buy this delightful red wine from DrinkWell for £10.49 per bottle.

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