Early version. Nutrient values from USDA FoodData Central; dietitian review in progress. Not medical advice.

How healthy is red wine?

Is red wine healthy? There is no healthy amount of alcohol; less is better. Red wine scores 0/100 on the HowHealthyIs Score: 100 g provides 85 kcal. Red wine contains polyphenols such as resveratrol, but in amounts too small to outweigh the effects of alcohol. Source: USDA FoodData Central.

  • Low fat
Score explained

The score compares nutrient density per 100 kcal across every food we cover (NRF9.3 method). Red wine ranks higher than 0% of them.

Note: Alcoholic drinks get a fixed score of 0: alcohol is a cause of several cancers and health bodies do not recommend any amount for health, so nutrient density is not a fair measure here.

Counts in favor (% daily value per 100 kcal)

  • Magnesium3%
  • Potassium3%
  • Iron3%
  • Calcium1%
  • Protein0%
  • Fiber0%
  • Vitamin A0%
  • Vitamin C0%
  • Vitamin E0%

Counts against

  • Saturated fat0%
  • Added sugars0%
  • Sodium0%

Raw NRF9.3: 10 minus 0 = 10. The score is not a verdict on whether to eat a food; portion, the whole meal and your own health matter more. Full methodology

How many calories are in red wine?

Calories125kcal
Protein0.1g
Carbohydrates3.8g
Fat0g
Fiber0g
Sugars0.9g
Nutrition facts for red wine. Per 100 g and for the selected portion (147 g). %DV uses FDA Daily Values.
NutrientPer 100 gPer portion%DV
Energy and macronutrients
Calories85 kcal125 kcal
Protein<0.1 g0.1 g0%
Carbohydrates2.6 g3.8 g1%
Fiber0 g0 g0%
Sugars0.6 g0.9 g
Added sugars0 g0 g0%
Fat0 g0 g0%
Saturated fat0 g0 g0%
Vitamins
Vitamin A0 µg0 µg0%
Vitamin C0 mg0 mg0%
Vitamin E0 mg0 mg0%
Minerals
Calcium8 mg12 mg1%
Iron0.5 mg0.7 mg4%
Potassium127 mg187 mg4%
Magnesium12 mg18 mg4%
Sodium4 mg5.9 mg0%

Source: USDA FoodData Central, "Alcoholic beverage, wine, table, red" (FDC 173190). Values rounded.

Why is red wine good for you?

A typical portion does not supply 10% or more of the daily value for any of the nine nutrients we score.

Good ways to use it

  • If you drink, keeping it to small amounts with food
  • Alcohol-free days each week

What should you watch out for?

  • Alcohol is a cause of several cancers, even at low intakes. Do not drink in pregnancy.

Which drinks score higher?

Other drinks with more nutrition per calorie. Variety matters more than picking one winner.

Diet cola

1 kcal per 100 g

12

Low calorie

Green tea

1 kcal per 100 g

14

Low calorie

Black tea

1 kcal per 100 g

16

Low calorie

How does red wine compare?

Common questions about red wine

How many calories are in red wine?
100 g of red wine has 85 kcal. A typical portion, 1 glass (150 ml) (147 g), has about 125 kcal.
How much protein is in red wine?
Red wine has <0.1 g of protein per 100 g, or about 0.1 g in 1 glass (150 ml).
Is red wine good for weight loss?
Red wine is low in calories (85 kcal per 100 g), so it adds volume to meals without many calories. No single food causes weight loss; the overall diet does.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central, SR Legacy: "Alcoholic beverage, wine, table, red", FDC ID 173190. fdc.nal.usda.gov
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (21 CFR 101.9).
  3. Fulgoni VL, Keast DR, Drewnowski A. Development and validation of the Nutrient-Rich Foods Index. J Nutr. 2009;139(8):1549-1554.
  4. Monteiro CA, et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):936-941.

Review and updates

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Pending. A registered dietitian signs off every food page before launch. Our reviewers

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