White Wine vs Red Wine: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

White wine and red wine have slight nutritional differences.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Emily Torres, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Red wine has slightly higher calories at 85 per 100 g, while both wines contain 0.1 g of protein. White wine has 82 calories, making it lower in calories.

White wine and red wine are popular alcoholic beverages with distinct flavors and characteristics. This comparison highlights their nutritional profiles to help consumers make informed choices.

What Is the Difference Between White Wine and Red Wine?

White wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented white grapes or other fruits. It is typically lighter in flavor and color compared to red wine. Red wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented dark-colored grape varieties. It is known for its rich flavors and deeper color.

White Wine vs Red Wine: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional content of white wine and red wine.

Nutrient (per 100 g) White wine Red wine
Calories 82 kcal 85 kcal
Protein 0.1 g 0.1 g
Carbs 2.6 g 2.6 g
Sugar 1 g 0.6 g
Fat 0 g 0 g
Fiber 0 g 0 g
Sodium 5 mg 4 mg

Which Is Better, White Wine or Red Wine?

For weight loss: White wine contains 82 calories per 100 g, while red wine has 85 calories. Therefore, white wine is slightly better for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Both white wine and red wine contain 0.1 g of protein per 100 g. Neither wine provides significant protein.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Both wines have the same carbohydrate content at 2.6 g per 100 g, but white wine has a higher sugar content at 1 g compared to red wine's 0.6 g.

How to Track White wine and Red wine Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when consuming alcoholic beverages, which can affect overall nutritional intake. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. This comparison is based on a per-100 g basis. Values are per 100 g: White wine from Open Food Facts (aggregated plain entries), Red wine from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which wine has fewer calories?

White wine has 82 calories per 100 g, while red wine has 85 calories. Therefore, white wine has fewer calories.

Which wine has more protein?

Both white wine and red wine contain 0.1 g of protein per 100 g. Neither wine has more protein than the other.

What is the sugar content in white wine?

White wine contains 1 g of sugar per 100 g. This is higher than the sugar content in red wine.

What is the carbohydrate content of red wine?

Red wine has 2.6 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. This is the same as the carbohydrate content in white wine.

How much sodium is in each type of wine?

White wine contains 5 mg of sodium per 100 g, while red wine has 4 mg of sodium. White wine has slightly more sodium.

Which wine is better for low-sugar diets?

Red wine is better for low-sugar diets, containing 0.6 g of sugar per 100 g compared to white wine's 1 g.

Key Takeaways

  • White wine has 82 calories per 100 g.
  • Red wine has 85 calories per 100 g.
  • Both wines have 0.1 g of protein per 100 g.
  • White wine contains 1 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • Red wine contains 0.6 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • Both wines have 2.6 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

Ready to Transform Your Nutrition Tracking?

Join millions who have transformed their health journey with Nutrola!