Champagne Alcohol Content: A Handy Guide

Ever wondered about the Champagne alcohol content while sipping the sparkler?

Champagne contains around 12.2% alcohol by volume (ABV.)

However, it varies with the wine style, how it’s produced, and how you drink it. For instance, a Champagne cocktail would be diluted and have lower alcohol content. 

This article tells you how much alcohol is there in your bubbly and compares Champagne alcohol content with other alcoholic drinks. Also, discover if Champagne can get you drunk, and the alcohol content of the other sparkling wines.

How Do Champagne Alcohol Levels Compare With That of Red Wine and White Wine?

The average alcohol level of Champagne (ABV) is 12.2%.

The alcohol content of regular wine ranges anywhere between 5% and 25% - an averagewine ABV is 12%.

However, it's different for red wine and white wine. Red wine has 12%-15% ABV, while white wine has 5%-14% ABV.

So, drinking a four-ounce glass of Brut Champagne is almost similar to consuming a four-ounce glass of wine.

But what makes Champagne an alcoholic drink? 

What Causes Champagne’s Alcohol Content and Bubbles?

The alcohol level and bubbles of this prestigious sparkling wine are the results of a two-round yeast fermentation process.

During fermentation, the yeast eats up the grape sugar to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. 

Now, Champagne is made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes that don't have high sugar. 

Since the grape juice has little sugar for the yeast to extract energy from, the first fermentation brings the Champagne alcohol content only up to 9%, without much bubble-production.

So the winemaker performs a second fermentation by adding the wine to a bottle with yeast and sugar (methode champenoise.) The added sugar decides the sugar content of the wine.

During the secondary fermentation, the yeast eats up the sugar, increasing the alcohol content in the Champagne bottle.

Does Drinking Champagne Get You Drunk?

Simply put, 12.2% ABV is enough to get you drunk. 

But what really gets you drunk is the bubbles in your drink. It’s because the bubbles in your alcoholic beverage help the alcohol seep faster into your blood.

That’s why you’re likely to get drunk faster by drinking Champagne rather than regular wine.

And that’s exactly why the traditional Champagne flute is tall and thin. Its narrow design helps keep the bubbles from escaping rapidly.

Alcohol Content in Other Sparkling Wines

Here are some of the other major types of sparkling wine and their typical ABV:

• Prosecco: A bottle of this Italian white wine has an alcohol level of 10.5% - 11.5%. 

• Cava DO: Cava DO is a Spanish sparkling white wine or rose wine. It has a high alcohol content for a sparkling wine ranging from 12.5%-13.5% ABV.

• Franciacorta: This sparkling wine is native to Brescia, Northern Italy. A Franciacorta bottle can have as little as 9.5% alcohol content or as high as 12.5%.

• Asti: The alcohol by volume of this Italian sparkling wine can range from 7% to 9.5%.

• Frank Family Blanc De Blancs: This American sparkling wine has an alcohol level of 12%.

Now, does Champagne have more alcohol than beer or vodka?

Is Champagne More Alcoholic Than Beer and Vodka?

Let’s start with beer. 

A typical 300ml glass of beer has an alcohol proof (ABV) of 4.8%. That’s approximately 11.5 grams of alcohol in a standard drink or alcoholic beverage.

In comparison, a typical glass of wine has about 17.6 grams of alcohol. 

On the other hand, vodka is a distilled spirit. This liquor usually has 40%-50% alcohol (compared to 12% ABV of wine.) However, if vodka is mixed with another drink like tonic, it’ll reduce the alcohol content. 

The bottom line is, this sparkling wine from the Champagne region is more alcoholic than beer but much less than undiluted vodka.

Build your Champagne Collection Today

The alcohol levels of Champagne depend on different factors like the bubbles and sugar, which make some light and others higher in alcohol content.

If you’re looking to invest in fine Champagnes, you can easily build a portfolio of wines with the help of a reliable wine investment firm like Vinovest.

So, sign up and add vintage Champagne bottles from famous Champagne houses, fortified wine, and even a dessert wine to your wine collection now.