By Malvina Demaj Last Updated: Mar 5, 2026

ABV

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DEFINITION

ABV

ABV means alcohol by volume and it refers to the percentage of alcohol in a wine, typically ranging from 11% to 15% for table wines. In practical terms, if a bottle states 14% ABV, it means that 14% of the wine is pure alcohol, while the remaining 86% consists of water, acids, sugars, phenolic compounds, and other natural components derived from grapes and fermentation.

Did you know? You might not be drinking the exact percentage stated on a bottle of wine. In the US, wines with ABV below 14% are allowed a 1.5% margin of error, while wines >14% may vary by 1%.

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