What Type of Wine Has the Least Calories and Sugar?

December 5, 2025 •

4 min read

While all wines contain some natural sugar and calories, dry wines—especially certain white and sparkling varieties—are typically the lowest in both, thanks to a more complete fermentation process. This makes them an excellent choice for health-conscious consumers looking to reduce their sugar and calorie intake without giving up their favorite beverage.

Quick Summary

Dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, along with Brut and Extra Brut sparkling wines, generally contain the lowest levels of sugar and calories. Calorie content is primarily influenced by alcohol, with residual sugar also contributing, making dry, lower-alcohol wines the best option for mindful consumption.

Key Points

Dry Wines are Key: Choose wines labeled 'Dry' or 'Brut,' as most of the grape sugars have been fermented into alcohol, leaving minimal residual sugar.
Lower ABV is Better: A wine's calorie count is mostly from its alcohol content, so selecting a wine with a lower Alcohol By Volume (ABV) results in fewer calories.
Sparkling is a Top Choice: Brut Nature and Extra Brut sparkling wines are excellent, low-calorie options due to their minimal sugar dosage.
White Over Red: On average, dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio have fewer calories than red wines, which often have higher alcohol content.
Avoid Sweet and Fortified Wines: Dessert wines, fortified wines like Port, and late-harvest varieties are highest in sugar and calories and should be avoided for low-sugar drinking.
Check for 'Unoaked' Whites: For the lowest calorie white wines, opt for unoaked styles that are fermented in stainless steel, avoiding extra calories from barrel aging.

Understanding Wine's Calorie and Sugar Sources

To find the wine with the least calories and sugar, it's crucial to understand where these components come from. The primary sources are alcohol and residual sugar. During fermentation, yeast consumes the natural sugars in grapes, converting them into alcohol (ethanol) and carbon dioxide.

Alcohol: At 7 calories per gram, alcohol is the largest contributor to a wine's calorie count. Wines with a lower alcohol by volume (ABV), typically under 12%, tend to have fewer calories.
Residual Sugar (RS): This is the sugar left over after fermentation. A wine is classified as 'dry' when most of the sugar has been fermented, leaving minimal residual sugar. Sweeter wines, like dessert or late-harvest varieties, have a higher RS and, therefore, more calories.

Low-Calorie and Low-Sugar Wine Recommendations

Dry White Wines

Dry white wines are a consistently excellent choice for low-calorie and low-sugar sipping. Their crisp, acidic profiles are a direct result of a fermentation process that leaves very little residual sugar behind.

Sauvignon Blanc: Known for its zesty, citrus-forward flavor, Sauvignon Blanc typically contains very little residual sugar and is often low in calories, making it a refreshing option.
Pinot Grigio: This light-bodied white wine is celebrated for its clean, crisp taste and modest calorie and sugar count. Italian Pinot Grigio is a particularly good choice for those seeking a drier style.
Unoaked Chardonnay: Unlike its oaked counterparts, unoaked Chardonnay offers a fresher, fruitier profile with lower calories and sugar, as it avoids the flavor and calorie contributions from aging in oak barrels.
Albariño: A Spanish white wine with bright acidity and floral notes, Albariño is a low-calorie and low-sugar option that delivers great flavor.

Dry Sparkling Wines

When it comes to sparkling wine, the key is to look for specific dryness indicators on the label. The driest styles contain the least amount of residual sugar, and by extension, fewer calories.

Brut Nature/Zero Dosage: This is the driest category of sparkling wine, with virtually no added sugar. It offers the absolute minimum in both sugar and calories.
Extra Brut: Very dry with only a small hint of fruitiness, this is another reliable, low-sugar choice.
Brut: The most common style of dry sparkling wine, Brut is a safe and popular option for those watching their sugar intake.

Light-Bodied Dry Red Wines

While red wines typically have slightly more calories than white wines due to higher alcohol content, certain varietals are still a great choice for low-sugar drinking. Their sugar content is generally very low, with most calories coming from the alcohol.

Pinot Noir: A light-bodied and dry red, Pinot Noir is known for having a lower calorie and sugar count than heavier red wines.
Gamay: The grape used to make Beaujolais, Gamay is juicy, light, and low in both tannins and calories.
Merlot: Lighter Merlots are a suitable low-calorie option, offering good flavor without excess sugar.

Comparison of Low-Calorie and High-Calorie Wines

This table illustrates the general differences in calorie and sugar content between low- and high-calorie wine types, based on a standard 5 oz (150 ml) pour.


Wine Type	Average Calories	Average Sugar Content	Why It's Lower/Higher	Best For
Sauvignon Blanc	~115–122	<1 g	Dry fermentation leaves minimal residual sugar.	Light, refreshing options
Pinot Grigio	~112–122	<1 g	Crisp, dry profile with low sugar and moderate ABV.	Calorie-conscious drinking
Brut Sparkling Wine	~90–110	<2 g	The driest sparkling wines have very little or no added sugar.	Toasting, celebrations
Pinot Noir	~121–125	<1 g	Lighter-bodied red with low sugar, though alcohol adds calories.	Low-sugar red option
Late Harvest Riesling	~160+	10–20+ g	Grapes are left on the vine longer, concentrating sugar.	Dessert, sweet pairings
Port (Fortified)	~150–200+	50–100+ g	Neutral spirits added halt fermentation, leaving high residual sugar.	Sweet, after-dinner drink

How to Choose Your Wine Wisely

Beyond selecting a specific varietal, these tips will help you navigate your wine choices for lower calories and sugar.

Read the Label

While nutritional information is not always required on wine labels, certain terms can provide clues about the sugar content. Look for terms like "Brut Nature," "Extra Brut," or simply "Dry" to indicate low sugar levels. Avoid labels with "Sec," "Demi-Sec," or "Doux," as these indicate higher sweetness. For sparkling wines, Brut Nature is the driest, while Doux is the sweetest.

Consider the Alcohol By Volume (ABV)

The ABV is often a good proxy for a wine's calorie count, as alcohol provides more calories per gram than sugar. Look for wines with a lower ABV, generally between 9% and 12%, for fewer calories. A higher ABV, such as 14% or 15%, indicates a greater conversion of sugar to alcohol, and therefore, more calories.

Favor Wines from Cooler Climates

Grapes grown in cooler climates tend to be less ripe at harvest, resulting in lower natural sugar levels. This often translates to wines with lower potential alcohol and less residual sugar. Many Old-World wines from regions like France, Italy, and Germany are known for their dry styles.

Look for "Un-Oaked" Whites

For white wines, those fermented in stainless steel tanks, or "unoaked," often contain fewer calories than those aged in oak barrels. The unoaked style preserves the natural, crisp characteristics of the grape without adding the extra flavor, or calories, that come with barrel aging.

Conclusion

When seeking the wine with the least calories and sugar, the general rule is to choose a dry wine. Dry white varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, along with dry sparkling wines like Brut Nature or Extra Brut Champagne, are your best bets. For red wine drinkers, light-bodied options like Pinot Noir offer a flavorful experience with minimal residual sugar. The key is to pay attention to indicators like ABV and dryness level, and to avoid sweeter dessert and fortified wines, to make a more health-conscious choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dry sparkling wines, such as Brut Nature Champagne or Cava, are typically the lowest-calorie options, with some varieties having as few as 90-100 calories per glass due to minimal sugar and lower ABV.

Generally, dry red wines have slightly less residual sugar than dry white wines. However, the difference is often marginal, and the overall calorie count can be higher in reds due to their typically higher alcohol content.

Yes, dry wine can have a small amount of sugar. In the wine industry, 'dry' refers to a wine with less than 10 grams of residual sugar per liter, a level most people cannot taste. A very dry wine can have less than 1 gram per liter.

To find a low-sugar wine, look for descriptors like 'Brut Nature,' 'Extra Brut,' or 'Dry' on the label. Avoid terms like 'Demi-Sec,' 'Sweet,' or 'Late Harvest.' Checking the ABV can also be helpful, as lower alcohol content often correlates with lower residual sugar.

No, technically there is no such thing as a completely sugar-free wine, as all wine is made from fermented grape sugar. However, dry wines contain such minimal residual sugar (less than 1 gram per liter) that they are often referred to as 'sugar-free' by brands like Usual Wines.

Sweet wines have high calorie counts because they contain high levels of both residual sugar and, in the case of fortified wines like Port, added alcohol. The fermentation process is intentionally stopped early to leave sugar behind.

Yes, many wineries offer specific 'light' or lower-calorie options, often achieved by harvesting grapes earlier or using techniques to reduce alcohol. Brands like Kendall-Jackson's Low Calorie line or Cupcake LightHearted are specifically formulated for lower calories and sugar.