Beer vs. Wine: Which Is Healthier?

What Is Wine?

Wine is possibly the world’s oldest fermented beverage. Our earliest ancestors likely purposely fermented fruits for recreational purposes, and by 8,000 BCE, winemaking had become a standardized process and had spread across Europe. Wine has long held an important place in many cultural and religious traditions, often symbolizing life, celebration, and community.

The production of wine usually involves the fermentation of grapes. Each style of wine has a different process, and tastes vary depending on the variety of grape, the soil, the growing temperature, and many other factors. There are many varieties of wine, but they generally fall into a few categories.

• White wines, such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and pinot grigio.
• Red wines like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and pinot noir.
• Sparkling wines, like Champagne and prosecco.
• Dessert wines, which are syrupy sweet.
• Fortified wines like port, sherry, or Madeira, are wines with liquor added.

While the following styles are technically wines, some people do not count them in the “wine” category because they are not made from grapes.

• Fruit wines, which can be made from just about any fruit, but most commonly cherries, strawberries, plums, or pears.
• Ciders, which are made from fermented apples.
• Mead is also called “honey wine” because it’s made from, well, honey.

What Is Beer?

Beer is another one of the world's oldest fermented drinks. Evidence suggests that the beverage we would recognize today as beer emerged around 3,500-3,100 BCE in Iran, though early forms of it likely existed well before this period. Throughout history, beer has played significant roles in various cultural and religious ceremonies.

Ranked as one of the most popular beverages globally (third, behind only water and tea), beer is crafted through the brewing and fermentation of grains, such as wheat and barley. Other ingredients may be added to flavor the beer, like fruit juice, hops, coffee, or spices. Through the ages, many styles of beer have emerged, often as local specialties that get re-interpreted as they spread. Let’s look at a few.

• Light beers like lagers, pale ales, pilsners, or hefeweizens.
• Dark beers like porters, stouts, and Belgian quads.
• Fruity beers like sours, fruit beers, and lambics.
• Specialty beers made with rice, corn, or oats. 

Nutrition, Calories, and Alcohol Content

Now that we know a little about the wide worlds of beer and wine, we may be wondering how these two compare. Are there more calories in wine vs. beer? Is one more nutritious than the other? How much alcohol is in wine vs. beer? Let’s take a look!

Alcohol Content Clash

The alcohol content of a beverage is measured in a unit called alcohol by volume (ABV). In any alcoholic beverage, ABV represents the percentage of alcohol in the liquid — the rest is water or juice. So how do wine and beer compare?

Wine ABV tends to stay pretty consistent within each style. Winemaking is very dependent on tradition, and different grape varieties have been developed to complement different alcohol levels. For instance, red wines typically range from 12-15% ABV while white wines and dessert wines come in around 9-14% ABV. Fortified wines are usually around 20-25%.

Beers, on the other hand, are more experimental — especially with the rise of the craft beer industry. Light beers can have an ABV as low as 3-4%, while stronger ales and dark beers may range from 6-12% ABV or higher.

Calorie Clash

You usually don’t see calories listed on your alcoholic beverage. Ever wonder why? Part of the reason is that most governments don’t consider alcohol to be food, so it isn’t subject to the same laws requiring labels for ingredients, calorie content, and nutritional values. (Most countries require manufacturers to disclose alcohol content, but that’s not always the case.)

Higher alcohol content generally means higher calories. Because of this, wine usually has more calories than beer, ounce per ounce. Wine also tends to have more residual sugar than beer. Ever heard of “sweet wine” vs “dry wine”? One 5 oz. serving of wine can range from 120 calories in dry varieties to 140 calories in sweet ones. If you’re calorie conscious, opt for dry wines like cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, pinot grigio, or sauvignon blanc.

Calorie content in beer varies by alcohol content and also by style, but most of the calories in beer come directly from its alcohol content. Low-ABV beers like light beers tend to have 100-120 calories, while high-ABV beers can have as many as 200-300 calories per 12 oz. serving. Fruit beers can be made with artificial flavoring, but if they’re made with real fruit juice they’ll likely be higher in sugar (and calories).

Weighing the Nutrition

Both beer and wine contain marginal amounts of fats and proteins, but they vary in carbohydrate content based on style. Beer, especially beer with higher malt content, typically has more carbohydrates than wine, except sweet wines.

Beer contains trace amounts of a variety of nutrients. It's made from grains like barley and wheat, which contribute small amounts of B vitamins, particularly B12, and minerals like selenium, potassium, and magnesium. But these don’t make beer healthy! These nutrients values typically clock in at less than 2% of their recommended daily intake.

Surely you’ve heard of the supposed health benefits of red wine. That’s because it contains polyphenols, an antioxidant found in grape skins. Polyphenols are associated with heart health benefits and may help in reducing inflammation. So, is wine healthier than beer? Not so fast! You can find these same healthy compounds in grape skins, and experts agree the risks of alcohol outweigh the benefits of polyphenols found in red wine. Red wine also contains small amounts of minerals like potassium and iron. However, the quantities aren’t substantial enough to contribute to our daily nutritional needs.

Comparing Health Effects

While beer and wine are occasionally touted for various health benefits, it's crucial to approach these claims with caution, as the purported benefits have generally been disproven. The benefits tend to be circumstantial or related to byproducts of the fermentation process studied in isolation — the alcohol counteracts any benefit.

Alcohol is known to have negative impacts on every area of our health, including our stomach, kidneys, bones, teeth, gut, liver, skin, and more. Drinking alcohol increases our risk of cancer and can worsen our mental health.

Bottom Line: Which Is Better?

As a 2018 study said, “The safest level of drinking is none.” If we include alcohol in our life, the most important factor in maximizing our health is to exercise mindfulness and moderation. It’s also important to pay attention to other areas of our health that may compound with alcohol’s negative effects. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, sleeping enough, and caring for our mental health help us nourish our whole selves so that we can live a long, healthy life.

Quitting or cutting back on alcohol has tons of benefits, and it can be a practice in self-care. The Reframe app offers a variety of resources that can help you change your relationship with alcohol based on your health goals.