Rosé wine has exploded in popularity in recent years, with many wine drinkers believing it to be a lower calorie option compared to red or white wines. But is this perception accurate? Here, we’ll take a detailed look at the calorie content of different types of rosé wine and how they compare to other wine varieties.
The Basics of Rosé Wine
Rosé wine gets its pink hue from limited contact between the juice and skin of red grapes during winemaking. This allows rosé to extract some color from red grape skins, while maintaining the fruity, refreshing flavor of white wines.
There are three main methods used to make rosé wine:
- Maceration: Allowing red wine grapes to soak in their juice for a short period before pressing. This extracts some color and tannins.
- Saignée: “Bleeding” off the pink juice from tanks of red wine grapes after limited skin contact.
- Blending: Mixing red and white wines to create the desired pink color.
Rosé can be made with a wide variety of red grape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Sangiovese. It can range in style from crisp and dry to slightly fruity and sweet.
Calories in Rosé Wine
When it comes to calories, rosé wines have a similar calorie density to white wines, and slightly fewer calories per glass than most red wines.
Here are some averages:
- 5 oz glass of dry rosé wine: 120 calories
- 5 oz glass of sweet rosé wine: 140 calories
- 5 oz glass of dry white wine: 120 calories
- 5 oz glass of red wine: 125 calories
However, there can be considerable variation among different producers and styles of rosé:
| Rosé Wine Type | Calories per 5 oz Glass |
|---|---|
| Dry French rosé | 120 |
| Sweet White Zinfandel | 140 |
| Sparkling rosé | 150 |
In general, dry styles of rosé tend to be on the lower end of the calorie range, while fruitier, sweeter examples contain more calories. Sparkling rosé wines also have slightly higher calorie counts due to their effervescence.
Comparing Rosé and White Wine Calories
Ounce for ounce, most dry rosé and white wines are very similar in calories. They both clock in at around 120-125 calories for a standard 5 ounce (150 ml) serving.
For example, a 5 oz glass of dry Provençal rosé made from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah grapes contains around 120 calories. A 5 oz glass of dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio also contains about 120 calories.
This is because both styles are lower in alcohol (usually 12-13% ABV), lower in residual sugar, and made without extended skin contact that ups the tannins and color that contribute slightly more calories to red wines.
Many wine drinkers consider rosé and white wines to be interchangeable options in terms of calories, allowing you to enjoy either without a significant difference in your calorie consumption.
Comparing Rosé and Red Wine Calories
While dry rosé and whites are neck-and-neck when it comes to calories, most red wines do tip the scales with slightly higher calorie counts per glass.
On average, a 5 oz (150ml) glass of dry red table wine has about 125 calories. More robust reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Malbec can edge up closer to 130 calories per 5 oz glass.
Here’s a direct calorie comparison between equivalent serving sizes of rosé and red wines:
| Wine Type | Calories (5 oz / 150ml glass) |
|---|---|
| Dry rosé wine | 120 |
| Dry red wine (average) | 125 |
| Full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon | 130 |
The slightly higher calorie count in red wines comes from their more intensive contact with grape skins during winemaking. This allows red wines to extract more color, tannins, and flavor compounds – which also translate to slightly more calories.
However, the calorie difference between a glass of dry rosé wine and dry red wine is minimal. Substituting a glass of rosé for red wine only saves you about 5-10 calories per 5 oz glass.
Factors Affecting Rosé Wine Calories
As you can see, rosé wines don’t have dramatically fewer calories compared to whites and reds. But there are several factors impacting the calorie content in rosé wines:
Sugar Content
The amount of residual sugar remaining after fermentation is the biggest influence on rosé wine’s calories. Dry rosés have under 4 grams of sugar per liter, while off-dry and sweet rosés can have up to 45 grams per liter.
More sugar equals more calories, so choose dry styles of rosé for the greatest calorie-savings.
Grape Variety
Rosés made with bolder, more robust red grapes like Grenache and Syrah tend to be marginally higher in calories than lighter grapes like Pinot Noir.
Vinification Method
The saignée method of making rosé results in wines that are often lower in calories than rosés made by extended maceration. With less skin contact, saignée rosés extract less color, tannin and flavor from skins.
Alcohol Content
The alcohol percentage of a wine impacts its calorie density. Most rosés are in the 12-13% ABV range. Higher alcohol rosés (14% ABV or above) will be higher in calories, while lower alcohol examples (under 12% ABV) will be marginally lower in calories.
Lower Calorie Rosé Options
If you’re aiming to limit calories, here are some tips for choosing lighter, lower-cal rosés:
- Prioritize dryness: Look for wines with under 4g/L residual sugar.
- Pick saignée method: These rosés see less skin contact.
- Choose lighter grapes: Pinot Noir and Grenache are lower-calorie red grapes.
- Check alcohol: Wines under 12.5% ABV tend to be lower in calories.
- Go for fruity, crisp style: These are less caloric than oaky, full-bodied rosés.
With these tips in mind, some great low-calorie rosé wines to try include:
- Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel
- Gerard Bertrand Côte des Roses
- Minuty Côtes de Provence Rosé
- Chateau de Montaud Cote de Provence
Ways to Enjoy Low-Calorie Rosé
Here are some tips for keeping your rosé wine low in calories:
Mind Your Serving Size
A standard 5 oz (150ml) glass of dry rosé has 120-130 calories. But it’s easy to unintentionally overpour, so use a measuring cup to keep your pours in check.
Alternate with Sparkling Water
Cut calories by diluting your rosé with some sparkling water. Alternate sips of wine and seltzer to make your glass last longer.
Try a Rosé Spritzer
Mix 3 ounces dry rosé with 2-3 ounces of seltzer water for a light, fizzy rosé spritzer. You’ll get great flavor at only 80-90 calories per glass.
Freeze Rosé into Ice Cubes
Pour rosé wine into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add a few cubes to sparkling water for a no-calorie rosé drink.
Select Light Bites
Enjoy your rosé with fresh salads, grilled fish, light apps and other lower calorie meal options to keep your overall calorie intake in check.
The Takeaway on Rosé Wine Calories
While many people consider rosé to be a lower-calorie alternative to red or white wine, the reality is that most light, dry styles of rosé have about the same calories per serving as a dry white wine, and only slightly less than most red wines.
Factors like sweetness, grape variety, and vinification method can impact the calories in rosé, but the differences are minimal. In general, a 5 oz (150ml) glass of dry rosé can be enjoyed as a 120 calorie option.
If calories are a concern, focus on picking dry, crisp rosés, opting for smaller 4 oz pours, and pairing with lower-calorie menu options for the healthiest way to enjoy this pink wine.
