Alcohol Levels
Each wine also has its alcohol by volume percentage figure included. Please note that occasionally there may be a small variation between the expected alcohol level which is published here and the actual level. Members should bear in mind that alcohol levels are only a guide to a wine’s fullness as a 12.5% cabernet may feel heavier and more full bodied in the mouth than, say, a gamay of 13.5%. Members should refer to the wine’s tasting note for a description of the style and fullness of the wine.
An additional figure is beginning to be used on labels: the number of (UK) units of alcohol contained in that bottle. This is simply the alcohol by volume percentage multiplied by the content. Thus a 13% wine in a standard 75cl bottle, will have 9.7 units of alcohol.
| Alcohol by volume% |
Units per standard bottle |
| 14.5 |
10.9 |
| 14 |
10.5 |
| 13.5 |
10.1 |
| 13 |
9.7 |
| 12 |
9.0 |
| 11 |
8.25 |
| 10 |
7.5 |
| 9 |
6.75 |
The UK government recommends that men do not regularly exceed 3-4 units a day, and that women do not regularly exceed 2-3 units a day. It also recommends that pregnant women do not drink alcohol.
