Sugar in Wine: This is how you determine sweetness

Are you starting to drink wine? Do you find yourself buying the wrong bottle of wine? Determining the sugar in wine and buying the right bottle of wine can be hard.

Don’t worry, I’ll share my tips and tricks for determining the sweetness in wine. You’ll be focusing on exploring new wines instead of being stuck with something that is too dry or too sweet.

Let’s get started!

Sugar Levels in Wine: From Sweetest to Driest

Above all let’s first organize wines based on their sugar content, from sweetest to driest, within each wine type:

White Wines (Sweetest to Driest):

1. Moscato
2. Riesling
3. Chenin Blanc
4. Gewürztraminer
5. Sauvignon Blanc
6. Chardonnay

Rosé Wines (Sweetest to Driest):

1. White Zinfandel
2. Sweet Rosé (varies by producer)
3. Off-Dry Rosé (varies by producer)
4. Dry Rosé (varies by producer)

Sparkling Wines (Sweetest to Driest):

1. Doux Sparkling (very sweet)
2. Sweet Sparkling (e.g., Asti Spumante)
3. Sec Sparkling (off-dry)
4. Brut Sparkling (dry)

It should be noted that wines are listed as dry when they have less than 4g/l (grams per liter) residual sugar. Off-dry when they have 4-12 g/l of residual sugar. Medium sweet when they have 12-45 g/l of residual sugar and sweet when they have more than 45 g/l of residual sugar.

But the perception of sweetness is all relative, right?

So how do I convey what I think of as sweet or dry?

What helped me was comparing wine to everyday drinks I was familiar with. In addition to the listing of varietals from sweetest to dryest, here’s a comprehensive chart listing average sugar levels. The chart categorizes grape varietals into red, white, sparkling, and rosé sections. I’ve listed them from sweetest to driest along with their approximate sugar levels and have compared them to everyday drinks:

Red Wines:

Grape Varietal	Sugar Levels (grams per liter)	Comparable Everyday Drinks
Port	>100 g/L	Like sipping on liquid caramel or a sweet liqueur.
Lambrusco (sweet)	30-50 g/L	Resembles the sweetness of a cola or root beer.
Zinfandel	2-10 g/L	Similar to the dryness of black coffee.
Syrah/Shiraz	2-10 g/L	Comparable to the dryness of black coffee.
Merlot	2-10 g/L	Similar to the dryness of black coffee.
Cabernet Sauvignon	<5 g/L	Resembles the dryness of unsweetened iced tea.

White Wines:

Grape Varietal	Sugar Levels (grams per liter)	Comparable Everyday Drinks
Moscato	30-100 g/L	Similar to sweet fruit juices or nectars.
Riesling (off-dry)	2-10 g/L	Resembles the sweetness of lemon-lime sodas.
Chenin Blanc	2-10 g/L	Comparable to lightly sweetened iced tea.
Gewürztraminer	2-10 g/L	Similar to lightly sweetened herbal teas.
Sauvignon Blanc (crisp, unoaked)	<5 g/L	Resembles the dryness of unsweetened iced tea.
Chardonnay (oaked)	<5 g/L	Comparable to the dryness of black tea.
Chardonnay (unoaked)	<5 g/L	Resembles the dryness of black tea.

Sparkling Wines:

Grape Varietal	Sugar Levels (grams per liter)	Comparable Everyday Drinks
Doux Sparkling	>50 g/L	Like indulging in a rich, decadent brownie.
Sweet Sparkling (e.g., Asti Spumante)	30-50 g/L	Resembles the sweetness of soda or fruit punches.
Sec Sparkling	0-17 g/L	About the same as a classic hamburger meal.
Brut Sparkling	0-12 g/L	Similar to a portion of crispy french fries.

Rosé Wines:

Grape Varietal	Sugar Levels (grams per liter)	Comparable Everyday Drinks
Sweet Rosé (varies)	10-50 g/L	Similar to fruit-flavored cocktails or sweet iced tea.
Off-Dry Rosé (varies)	0-5 g/L	Equivalent to enjoying a juicy grilled chicken salad.
Dry Rosé (varies)	0-5 g/L	Similar to the dryness of black coffee.

So what is the wine with the least amount of sugar? It looks like on average, it is cabernet sauvignon for reds and chardonnay for whites!

As previously noted, please keep in mind that these are general observations, and the sugar levels can vary depending on the specific wine producer, grape varietal, and winemaking techniques. The comparisons are intended to give you a rough idea of how sweet or dry each grape varietal is typically.

Tips on confirming sweetness or dryness in a wine:

Look at the ABV (Alcohol by Volume)! The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau requires the alcohol content in wine to be displayed on the bottle. ABV tells us how much alcohol is in a bottle of wine. That alcohol comes from the sugar in the grapes, so the more alcohol in the bottle of wine, the less sweet that wine will be (more sugar got turned into alcohol).

Now, to every rule, there is an exception to the rule. For dessert wines, the ABV can be about 16-20% despite their sweetness. This is because a spirit is added during fermentation. A spirit like brandy, for example, will stop the fermentation process leaving residual sugar behind. Since the wine has received the spirit with alcohol, it will have both sugar and a high ABV. Another exception is late-harvest wines

Look at the front and back labels of the bottle! The winemaker will sometimes give you tips on how the wine will taste.

Is wine the healthiest alcohol?

I am not a doctor but it is for me. My alcoholic beverage of choice has been red wine and dry sparkling wine because of their low sugar content. Here is an article that agrees with me.

How many calories are in wine?

Here’s a comparison of different grape varietals with their corresponding calories both in a 5-ounce glass and a standard 750ml bottle of wine. I’ll also compare these calorie counts to everyday drinks and provide advice on choosing wine:

Red Wines:

1. Port (20% ABV): A 5-ounce glass contains about 240 calories, and a standard bottle (750ml) contains approximately 1,440 calories.
   • Comparable to: Roughly the same calories as a large slice of cheesecake.
2. Zinfandel (13.5% ABV): A 5-ounce glass contains around 120 calories, and a standard bottle contains about 720 calories.
   • Comparable to: Similar calories to a serving of french fries.
3. Merlot (13.5% ABV): A 5-ounce glass contains approximately 120 calories, and a standard bottle contains about 720 calories.
   • Comparable to: About the same calories as a small cheeseburger.

White Wines:

1. Moscato (7-12% ABV): A 5-ounce glass contains roughly 120-130 calories, and a standard bottle contains about 600-650 calories.
   • Comparable to: Comparable calories to a serving of sweetened iced tea.
2. Chardonnay (13.5% ABV): A 5-ounce glass contains around 120 calories, and a standard bottle contains about 720 calories.
   • Comparable to: Similar calories to a serving of whole milk.

Sparkling Wines:

1. Brut Sparkling (11-12% ABV): A 5-ounce glass contains about 100-120 calories, and a standard bottle contains approximately 600-720 calories.
   • Comparable to: Comparable calories to a serving of club soda with a splash of fruit juice.

Rosé Wines:

1. Dry Rosé (11-13.5% ABV): A 5-ounce glass contains roughly 110-130 calories, and a standard bottle contains about 660-780 calories.
   • Comparable to: Similar calories to a serving of lemonade.

Considerations When Choosing Wine:

1. Alcohol Content: Pay attention to the wine’s alcohol by volume (ABV) to gauge its overall strength and potential calorie content.
2. Food Pairing: Consider what you’re eating and choose wines that complement your meal. Sweeter wines pair well with desserts, while drier wines complement savory dishes.
3. Occasion: Tailor your wine choice to the occasion, whether it’s a special celebration or a casual gathering.
4. Personal Taste: Ultimately, choose wines that match your palate and preferences. Wine tasting is a journey, so don’t hesitate to explore different grape varieties and styles to discover what you enjoy most.
5. Moderation: Enjoy wine in moderation and be mindful of portion sizes to balance your overall calorie intake.

Remember that wine is a diverse world with a wide range of flavors and characteristics. Clearly, finding the right wine for you is a delightful journey, so savor the experience and savor your wine responsibly. Check out this blog post with more tips on how to shop for the best wine.

Wine is the only living artform we get to experience and learning more about it has brought me a lot of joy. Therefore, I hope the information you received above was helpful! Remember to look at the main grape variety to get a gauge for sweetness, look at the ABV to confirm, and enjoy the great choices I am sure you will make.

Thank you for reading!

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Since I share my tips for determining the sweetness of wine, do you want to share yours?

Do we have the same ones?

Did we just become best friends?

Comment below 🙂