What is Chardonnay’s Alcohol Content? It’s Not Exactly What You Think

The amount of alcohol in a drink is usually described as Alcohol by Volume or ABV. 

For example, in wine, the volume of alcohol is dictated by the amount of sugar that has developed in the grapes at harvest time, meaning that the higher the sugar levels, the higher the alcohol volume is.

And although this can be a lot to take in, it can be really valuable to know how much alcohol you are consuming to keep yourself safe and healthy! 

What Percent Alcohol is Chardonnay? 

Generally, white wine has an ABV that averages around 10%, but it can range from anywhere between 5% to 14%. As for Chardonnay itself, that can average from anywhere between 13.5% and 14.5%, placing it a little over the average.

Of course, how much of the wine you actually pour affects the ABV. For example, 5 ounces of wine would work out at somewhere around 12% ABV. 

Is Chardonnay Considered a Strong Wine? 

The ABV of wine fluctuates from wine to wine, but Chardonnay is considered relatively strong among white wines at 13.5 – 14.5% ABV. For reference, wines with similar ABS include: 

• Pinot Grigio
• Sauvignon Blanc 
• Viognier 
• Sauternes 

What Brand of Chardonnay Has The Least & Most Alcohol? 

The amount of alcohol in wine also depends on which type of Chardonnay you drink, whether it’s oaked or unoaked, or the brand itself. 

For unoaked Chardonnay, the strongest is Mer Soleil 2010 Silver Unoaked Chardonnay at 14.8%, and the weakest is Chamisal 2010 Stainless Unoaked Chardonnay at 13.5%. 

Alternatively, if you prefer oaked Chardonnay, the strongest is Darms Lane Chardonnay at 14.5%, and the weakest is 2019 Les Lunes Wine Linda Vista Vineyard Chardonnay at 13.7%. 

How Strong is Chardonnay Compared to Other Types of Wine? 

The ABV of Chardonnay sits at somewhere between 13.5 and 14.5%, meaning it is recognized as quite a strong wine. Comparatively, some wines, like Muscadet, Lambrusco, and Riesling, whose ABV sits between 7 and 10% ABV. 

This, however, does not mean that Chardonnay is the strongest wine, as some have an even higher ABV at 15%. These wines include French Muscat, Portuguese Madeira, and Spanish Sherry. 

So although it is not the strongest, Chardonnay is still considered to be a relatively strong wine. 

Final Thoughts on Chardonnay’s Alcohol Content

Overall, Chardonnay is versatile in many ways, and the amount of alcohol that it contains is just one of the many factors to consider when choosing which Chardonnay to drink. 

It is, of course, important to remember that Chardonnay is a strong wine compared to many others and should only be drunk in moderation! But other than that, go and have fun and find the Chardonnay that suits you best!