Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining Party Food & Drink Your Ultimate Guide to How Much Alcohol Is in Every Type of Wine Knowing the alcohol content of the wine you're drinking is highly valuable. By Betty Gold Betty Gold With more than a decade of experience writing and editing food and nutritional content, Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and acting senior food editor at Well+Good. Betty has also spent time working in product analysis at Good Housekeeping and in food production on The Martha Stewart Show. Highlights: * Bachelor of Science in Food Studies & Nutrition from New York University * Industry professional for 11 years * Served on mastheads at Food Network, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping Magazines * Worked in publications department at James Beard Foundation Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article Higher Than You Think Sparkling Wine Rosé White Wine Red Wine The degree of alcohol in any given glass of wine is equivalent to its percentage by volume and is often referred to as "ABV" (or alcohol by volume). Alcohol levels in wine are directly correlated with the amount of sugar that developed in the grapes at harvest time: The higher the sugar levels, the higher the potential alcohol. This doesn't mean that higher-alcohol wines are sweeter, though sometimes this is the case. Rather, yeast consumes the sugar and converts it into alcohol during fermentation. The style (or varietal) of wine, the climate where the grapes were grown, and the winemaking/fermentation process are all key factors in determining both the sugar content of the grapes and the amount of alcohol in your bottle. The average glass of wine contains about 11 percent to 13 percent alcohol, but bottles range from as little as 5.5 percent alcohol by volume to as much as around 20 percent ABV. When tasting wine, you'll notice alcohol comes through as heat in the back of your mouth or throat. A higher ABV wine will taste warmer and bolder, almost like a slight burning sensation on your palate. RELATED: This Mind-Boggling Sommelier Trick For Buying Rosé Might Be Secret Genius It May Be Higher Than You Think According to experts, the alcohol content of wine has spiked considerably in recent years. "There's pressure on winemakers from critics for intense flavors, and that means riper grapes," explains Marnie Old, former director of wine studies at the French Culinary Institute in New York City and co-author of He Said Beer, She Said Wine. "So during the past few years, winemakers have been leaving grapes on the vines well after they would typically be picked, and that translates into fuller-bodied wines and more alcohol." Thanks to scientific advances in farming, it's now less risky to postpone a harvest. Warmer climates also play a role, so a riesling from California is going to be much more potent than a traditional one from a cooler climate, like Germany. Knowing how much alcohol you're imbibing is useful information. Here's a guide to wines with very low, moderately low, high, and very high alcohol content. Cheers to whatever style suits you! Getty Images Sparkling Wine Alcohol Content Wine ABV Italian Asti Very Low; under 12.5 percent Italian Prosecco Very Low; under 12.5 percent California Sparkling Wine Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent French Champagne Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Spanish Cava Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Rosé Alcohol Content Wine ABV California White Zinfandel Very Low; under 12.5 percent Portuguese Rosés Very Low; under 12.5 percent French Rosés Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Spanish Rosés Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent RELATED: Orange Wine is the New Rosé White Wine Alcohol Content Wine ABV French Vouvray and Muscadet Very Low; under 12.5 percent German Riesling Very Low; under 12.5 percent Portuguese Vinho Verde Very Low; under 12.5 percent Spanish Txakoli Very Low; under 12.5 percent Austrian Grüner Veltliner Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Australian Riesling Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent French Alsace White Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent French Loire and Bordeaux Whites Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent French White Burgundy Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Italian Pinot Grigio Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent New York Riesling Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Oregon Pinot Gris Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent South African Sauvignon Blanc Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Spanish Albarino Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Australian Chardonnay High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent California Chardonnay High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent California Pinot Gris High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent California Sauvignon Blanc High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent California Viognier High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent Chilean Chardonnay High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent French Sauternes High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent South African Chenin Blanc High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent French Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise (fortified) Very High; more than 14.5 percent Portuguese Madeira (fortified) Very High; more than 14.5 percent Spanish Sherry (fortified) Very High; more than 14.5 percent Red Wine Alcohol Content Wine ABV French Beaujolais and Burgundy Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent French Bordeaux Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Italian Chianti Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Spanish Rioja Moderately Low; 12.5 to 13.5 percent Argentine Malbec High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent Australian Shiraz High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent California Cabernet Sauvignon High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent California Pinot Noir High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent California Syrah High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent Chilean Merlot High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent French Rhône Red High; 13.5 to 14.5 percent Italian Barolo High (13.5 to 14.5 Percent) California Petite Sirah Very High; more than 14.5 percent California Zinfandel Very High; more than 14.5 percent Italian Amarone Very High; more than 14.5 percent Portuguese Port (fortified) Very High; more than 14.5 percent Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Related Articles The Lowdown on Low-Alcohol Wine, According to a Sommelier Best Alcohol Delivery Services We're Calling It: Orange Wine Is the New Rosé Flutes Are One of the Worst Ways to Serve Sparkling Wine—and 5 Other Major Mistakes You're Making With Champagne 7 Sommelier Secrets for Buying Affordable Wines That Taste Top-Notch This Mind-Boggling Sommelier Trick For Buying Rosé Might Be Secret Genius Smart Money Awards: The Best Financial Apps and Services of 2022 These Are the Best Wines for Springtime Sipping The Perfect Wine Pairing for Every Classic BBQ Dish The 3 Healthiest Types of Wine, According to Registered Dietitians The Right Glass Can Elevate Any Wine—Here's How to Choose the Best One for Each Varietal Meet Your New Favorite Fall Wine, Lambrusco I Tried Firstleaf's Wine Club, and I'm Only Ordering Wine From Now On Why Natural Wine Isn't Always the Healthiest (or Tastiest) Option Winc's Wine Club Strives to Pair People With Bottles They'll Love, and This Reviewer Raves About Its Accuracy 7 Strategies to Form Healthy Eating Habits, According to RDs Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies