On average, a 175ml glass of wine contains 133 calories, while a pint of beer contains 240 calories (NHS figures). That means beer usually has about 50% more calories than wine. However, calorie counts vary by type, colour, and alcohol strength.
In the same way we are divided by tea vs coffee and cats vs dogs, we tend to have a preference between the nation’s two favourite alcoholic drinks - beer vs wine. When you think of your friends and family, chances are you know if they are a beer person or a wine person.
Beer and wine have distinct differences, not just in flavour but also in nutritional values and ingredients. In this blog, we will take an informative look at the differences in calories between wine and beer.
Lifestyle White Wine Case
£69.99
Nutrition details (per 125ml)
ABV11%
Calories76
Sugars0g
Carbohydrates0g
Each bottle saves you (vs standard average*):
Calories
677.9999
Sugars
19.9999g
*Statistics based from Drinkaware 2023 and Alcohol Health Alliance 2022
The Lifestyle White Wine Case brings together six exceptional bottles, showcasing a spectrum of styles—from the zesty freshness of a ... read more
Calories in wine vs beer at a glance
Calories In Wine
Calories In Beer
175ml glass of 12% ABV (average)
1 Pint of 5% ABV (average)
133 calories
240 calories
*Averages according to NHS
Calories in Wine
According to the NHS, a standard 175ml glass of 12% ABV wine contains around 133 calories, which is equivalent to eating three jaffa cake biscuits. However, the type and colour of wine you choose can have a large effect on the calorie content.
White Wine Calories
White wine typically has 73–83 calories per 100ml. That means:
A 125ml small glass: 92 - 104 calories
A 175ml medium glass: 128 - 145 calories
A 250 large glass: 183 - 208 calories
Lighter wines like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc often fall at the lower end of this range. Richer whites like Chardonnays are usually higher.
Red Wine Calories
Red wines usually contain 75–85 calories per 100ml. That translates to:
A 125ml glass: 94–106 calories
A 175ml glass: 131–149 calories
A 250ml glass: 188–213 calories
Rosé Wine Calories
Rosé is generally the lightest option, averaging 70–80 calories per 100ml. That’s around:
A 125ml glass: 88–100 calories
A 175ml glass: 123–140 calories
A 250ml glass: 175–200 calories
You can read more about the calories in wine in our blog here or why not discover reduced calorie wine alternatives available on DrinkWell
Calories in Beer
On average, a pint of 5% ABV beer contains around 240 calories (current NHS estimate). Beer is made using grains and yeast, and the calorie content can vary widely depending on the type of beer you drink.
Light Beers
Lighter colour beers tend to contain less calories than their darker counterparts. This is because lighter beers have a lower alcohol content and lower ingredient density. For example, most light beers tend to have between 60 and 120 calories.
Dark Beers
Dark beers have between 100 and 300 calories, due to the fact they are more carbohydrate heavy.
The NHS estimates that drinking 5 pints of lager each week adds up to 44,200kcal over a year, equivalent to eating 221 doughnuts! However, the nutritional value of beer exceeds that of wine, with beer often containing protein, fiber, B vitamins, folate, and niacin.
Conclusion
Unfortunately for beer drinkers, beer does tend to come out on top when it comes to calorie content - giving some truth to the expression ‘beer belly’! On average, a pint of beer has 50% more energy content than a small glass of wine, which will cause you to pile on the pounds if not enjoyed in moderation.
It is important to remember though that this is not always the case, and calories in both wine and beer can vary widely. However, research by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre found that wine enters your bloodstream more quickly than beer - effectively making you more drunk more quickly (interesting fact).
Some Lower Calorie Options at DrinkWell
Whether you are team beer or team wine (or both) we have plenty of lower calories options available to purchase from DrinkWell. Many of our range are also vegan friendly and suitable for a gluten free diet. Below are some of our current favourites:
A soft, biscuity lager with floral & citrusy aromas, finishing with a pleasing dryness & balance from the European hops. Lean Brew Lager has 99 calories per can, 4g of carbs, and 4.1% alcohol volume.
Our own brand of wine, TRACES, is a delicious light-bodied dry rosé. It's packed with notes of strawberries, apricots and stone fruit. It's incredibly light at 62 calories per glass and 11% alcohol volume.
The superb team at Tierra De Estrellas have worked wonders and created a beautiful classic Chilian Savignon Blanc with less than 2g/l of residual sugar and 84 calories per 125ml glass. This superb Chilean Sauvignon Blanc combines aromas of fresh grapefruit and lime followed by flavours of juicy ripe melon on the palate.
A classic Italian Chianti which has only 1.5g/l of residual sugar and 83 calories per 125ml glass. Sour red cherries on the palate are complemented well by leafy aromas and earthy smokines. At just £9.27 a bottle on the DrinkWell website, this is a really excellent purchase for red wine fans who are watching their calorie intake.
On average, a 175ml glass of wine contains 133 calories, while a pint of beer contains 240 calories (NHS figures). That means beer usually has about 50% more calories than wine. However, calorie counts vary by type, colour, and alcohol strength.
In the same way we are divided by tea vs coffee and cats vs dogs, we tend to have a preference between the nation’s two favourite alcoholic drinks - beer vs wine. When you think of your friends and family, chances are you know if they are a beer person or a wine person.
Beer and wine have distinct differences, not just in flavour but also in nutritional values and ingredients. In this blog, we will take an informative look at the differences in calories between wine and beer.
Nutrition details (per 125ml)
Each bottle saves you (vs standard average*):
-
Calories
-
Sugars
*Statistics based from Drinkaware 2023 and Alcohol Health Alliance 2022677.9999
19.9999g
The Lifestyle White Wine Case brings together six exceptional bottles, showcasing a spectrum of styles—from the zesty freshness of a ... read more
Calories in wine vs beer at a glance
*Averages according to NHS
Calories in Wine
According to the NHS, a standard 175ml glass of 12% ABV wine contains around 133 calories, which is equivalent to eating three jaffa cake biscuits. However, the type and colour of wine you choose can have a large effect on the calorie content.
White Wine Calories
White wine typically has 73–83 calories per 100ml. That means:
Lighter wines like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc often fall at the lower end of this range. Richer whites like Chardonnays are usually higher.
Red Wine Calories
Red wines usually contain 75–85 calories per 100ml. That translates to:
A 125ml glass: 94–106 calories
A 175ml glass: 131–149 calories
A 250ml glass: 188–213 calories
Rosé Wine Calories
Rosé is generally the lightest option, averaging 70–80 calories per 100ml. That’s around:
A 125ml glass: 88–100 calories
A 175ml glass: 123–140 calories
A 250ml glass: 175–200 calories
You can read more about the calories in wine in our blog here or why not discover reduced calorie wine alternatives available on DrinkWell
Calories in Beer
On average, a pint of 5% ABV beer contains around 240 calories (current NHS estimate). Beer is made using grains and yeast, and the calorie content can vary widely depending on the type of beer you drink.
Light Beers
Lighter colour beers tend to contain less calories than their darker counterparts. This is because lighter beers have a lower alcohol content and lower ingredient density. For example, most light beers tend to have between 60 and 120 calories.
Dark Beers
Dark beers have between 100 and 300 calories, due to the fact they are more carbohydrate heavy.
The NHS estimates that drinking 5 pints of lager each week adds up to 44,200kcal over a year, equivalent to eating 221 doughnuts! However, the nutritional value of beer exceeds that of wine, with beer often containing protein, fiber, B vitamins, folate, and niacin.
Conclusion
Unfortunately for beer drinkers, beer does tend to come out on top when it comes to calorie content - giving some truth to the expression ‘beer belly’! On average, a pint of beer has 50% more energy content than a small glass of wine, which will cause you to pile on the pounds if not enjoyed in moderation.
It is important to remember though that this is not always the case, and calories in both wine and beer can vary widely. However, research by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre found that wine enters your bloodstream more quickly than beer - effectively making you more drunk more quickly (interesting fact).
Some Lower Calorie Options at DrinkWell
Whether you are team beer or team wine (or both) we have plenty of lower calories options available to purchase from DrinkWell. Many of our range are also vegan friendly and suitable for a gluten free diet. Below are some of our current favourites:
Lean Brew Lager
A soft, biscuity lager with floral & citrusy aromas, finishing with a pleasing dryness & balance from the European hops. Lean Brew Lager has 99 calories per can, 4g of carbs, and 4.1% alcohol volume.
TRACES Rosé
Our own brand of wine, TRACES, is a delicious light-bodied dry rosé. It's packed with notes of strawberries, apricots and stone fruit. It's incredibly light at 62 calories per glass and 11% alcohol volume.
Tierra de Estrellas - Sauvignon Blanc
The superb team at Tierra De Estrellas have worked wonders and created a beautiful classic Chilian Savignon Blanc with less than 2g/l of residual sugar and 84 calories per 125ml glass. This superb Chilean Sauvignon Blanc combines aromas of fresh grapefruit and lime followed by flavours of juicy ripe melon on the palate.
Il Caggio - Chianti
A classic Italian Chianti which has only 1.5g/l of residual sugar and 83 calories per 125ml glass. Sour red cherries on the palate are complemented well by leafy aromas and earthy smokines. At just £9.27 a bottle on the DrinkWell website, this is a really excellent purchase for red wine fans who are watching their calorie intake.
Buy Our Low Calorie Wine Cases