Is wine or gin more fattening? A complete calorie breakdown

December 17, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Drinkaware, the calories in alcohol are often called 'empty calories' because they provide energy without nutritional value. When asking is wine or gin more fattening, the answer depends heavily on serving size, mixers, and how your body processes these empty calories.

Quick Summary

This article compares the calorie content, sugar, and carbs in wine versus gin. It explains how mixers impact the total energy intake and explores alcohol's broader effect on metabolism and weight gain.

Key Points

Calorie Count: A pure shot of gin contains fewer calories than a standard glass of wine, but this can change dramatically depending on mixers.
The Mixer Matters: Adding sugary mixers to gin, like regular tonic or juice, can make a gin cocktail higher in calories and sugar than a glass of wine.
Sugar and Carbs: Gin is a distilled spirit with no sugar or carbs, whereas wine contains residual sugar and carbs from the grapes used in its production.
Empty Calories: Both wine and gin provide 'empty calories' that offer little to no nutritional value, and the body prioritizes metabolizing alcohol over burning fat.
Metabolic Effect: Alcohol temporarily slows down your body's fat-burning process and can increase appetite, which is a major contributor to weight gain.
Moderation is Key: The most significant factor in whether wine or gin is 'more fattening' is overall consumption volume and habit, not just the drink itself.

The Calorie Density of Alcohol

To understand which beverage is more fattening, it is crucial to recognize that alcohol itself is calorie-dense. A gram of alcohol contains approximately 7 calories, which is more than protein or carbohydrates (4 calories per gram) and slightly less than fat (9 calories per gram). These are considered 'empty calories' because they offer no nutritional benefit. Your body also prioritizes processing alcohol, which temporarily pauses the metabolism of fat and other nutrients, a significant factor in weight gain.

Calorie and Sugar Content: Gin vs. Wine

On a head-to-head basis, when looking at a standard serving, gin tends to be lower in calories and sugar than wine. However, the context of the drink is everything.

A Standard Serving Comparison

Gin: A standard 1.5-ounce (44ml) shot of 90-proof gin contains approximately 115 calories and zero sugar or carbs. The purest form of distilled spirits like gin contains no sugar because the sugar is fermented out during the distillation process.
Wine: A standard 5-ounce (145ml) glass of dry wine, whether red or white, typically contains around 100 to 125 calories and about 1 to 4 grams of sugar. A larger 175ml glass can reach up to 159 calories or more, depending on the sweetness and ABV. Sweeter dessert wines will have significantly higher sugar and calorie counts.

The Impact of Mixers and Portion Size

The choice of mixers is a game-changer for gin, while portion size is a crucial variable for wine. A gin-based drink can quickly become more fattening than wine if a sugary mixer is used.

Gin Mixer Choices

Gin and Diet Tonic: A standard gin and diet tonic can have as few as 110 calories, making it a very low-calorie alcoholic option.
Gin and Soda Water: Mixing gin with soda water and a squeeze of fresh citrus results in an even lower calorie count, often under 100 calories.
Gin with Regular Tonic: A gin and regular tonic can contain 130 calories or more per serving due to the added sugar in the tonic.

Wine Portion Control

Serving sizes for wine vary dramatically. While a standard glass is 5 ounces, restaurant pours are often larger, and self-poured glasses at home can be even more generous. A large 250ml glass can contain over 200 calories.

Comparison Table: Gin vs. Wine


Feature	Gin (Standard 1.5 oz shot)	Wine (Standard 5 oz glass)
Calories	~115 kcal	~100-125 kcal
Sugar	0 grams	1-4 grams
Carbohydrates	0 grams	4+ grams
With Low-Calorie Mixer	Very low calories	N/A
Portion Variability	Standardized shot vs mixed drink	Glass size varies widely

The Metabolic Impact and Associated Factors

Beyond the raw calorie count, several other physiological effects influence how fattening each drink is.

How Alcohol Affects Your Body

Slows Fat Burning: When alcohol is consumed, the liver prioritizes metabolizing it, slowing down the fat-burning process. This means your body is more likely to store fat from other foods eaten around the same time.
Increases Appetite: Alcohol can trigger the part of the brain that makes you feel hungry and lowers inhibitions, leading to poor food choices like late-night snacks.
Impact on Sleep: Alcohol disrupts sleep cycles, which can negatively affect hormones related to hunger and metabolism.

Conclusion

So, is wine or gin more fattening? The definitive answer is that a serving of pure gin mixed with a zero-calorie mixer like soda water is less fattening than a standard glass of wine. Gin itself has zero carbs and zero sugar, whereas wine contains residual sugars and carbohydrates from the grapes. However, the total calorie load is entirely dependent on consumption habits, including portion size and mixers.

For those watching their weight, the key is moderation and being mindful of how you drink. A gin and diet tonic is a smart choice, while opting for dry wines and being conscious of pour sizes can also help manage calorie intake. The empty calories in any alcoholic beverage can contribute to weight gain, especially when paired with binge drinking and poor dietary choices. Therefore, the final verdict rests on the drinker's behavior rather than the spirit itself.

For more detailed information on the calories in various alcoholic drinks and tips for mindful consumption, you can visit the Drinkaware website.

Low-Calorie Alcohol Alternatives

For those looking to reduce calorie intake from alcohol, here are some options:

Dry Wine: Choosing dry varieties like Pinot Grigio or Merlot minimizes sugar content.
Vodka Soda: Similar to gin and soda, this classic provides a low-calorie base.
Hard Seltzer: Many brands offer low-calorie, low-sugar options, though it is still important to check the nutritional information.
Light Beer: Opting for light beer instead of regular or craft brews can significantly reduce calorie consumption.

How to Drink Responsibly for Weight Management

Track Your Intake: Keep a log of your drinks and food to stay aware of your total calorie consumption.
Plan Ahead: If you know you will be drinking, factor those calories into your daily total.
Eat Healthy Food: Pair your drinks with nutrient-dense meals to avoid excessive snacking while inhibited.
Hydrate: Drink plenty of water throughout the night to stay hydrated and reduce the likelihood of drinking too much alcohol.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gin, especially with a low-calorie mixer like soda water or diet tonic, is generally the better choice for weight loss due to its lower calorie and zero sugar content per standard serving.

Alcohol contributes to weight gain in several ways, including providing empty calories, slowing down your body's fat-burning process, increasing appetite, and leading to poor food choices due to lower inhibitions.

To reduce the calories in a gin and tonic, opt for a diet or 'light' tonic water instead of regular tonic, and use a standard, rather than a double, measure of gin.

The calorie difference between red and white wine is typically minor and depends more on the ABV and residual sugar. Generally, dry wines of similar ABV will have comparable calorie counts.

Distilled spirits like gin, vodka, and whiskey, when served pure or with zero-calorie mixers like soda water, are among the lowest-calorie alcoholic drink options.

Both the alcohol and the sugar in wine contribute to its overall calorie count. The alcohol itself is more calorie-dense per gram than sugar (7 vs. 4 calories), but the amount of sugar can significantly increase the total calories, especially in sweeter wines.

No, moderate alcohol consumption does not permanently damage your metabolism. Your metabolism will recover once the alcohol has been processed by the liver. However, chronic and heavy drinking can have long-term negative effects on liver function and metabolism.