An expert has issued a warning to anyone who regularly buys bottles of wine. Whether you prefer a crisp white or a hearty red, opening a bottle of your favourite tipple is a great way to start off any weekend.

But shoppers are being urged to check the labels of their preferred wines before buying them as many people have no idea how much sugar is hiding in their bottle. Jonny Inglis, founder of Winedrops.com, has shared some key things to look for on the label, as well as which wines you should try and avoid altogether. He said: “Many people think wine is naturally low in sugar compared to cocktails or soft drinks.

“But in reality, some wines pack in more sugar per glass than fruit juice, and a few even edge close to fizzy drinks.

“Since wine bottles don’t come with clear sugar labels, most consumers are completely unaware of what they’re drinking.”

The biggest offender is Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato, a sparkling wine containing a sizeable 13.8g of sugar per 175ml glass, which is equivalent to nearly three teaspoons of sugar.

Other high-sugar wines include:

  • Barefoot Pink Moscato – 11.1g (3 tsp)

  • Echo Falls Fruit Fusion Summer Berries (9%) – 9.2g (2 tsp)

  • Echo Falls Sparkling Summer Berries – 8.5g (2 tsp)

  • Blossom Hill Spritz Elderflower & Lemon – 5.9g (1 tsp)

For comparison, a can of Coca-Cola (330ml) contains 35g of sugar, meaning that just three glasses of some of these wines would contain more sugar than a can of Coke.

Jonny said: “Rosé wines can be tricky because their sugar content varies so much. While some are dry and low in sugar, others, especially fruitier style, can contain more than people expect.”

The wine style can make a big difference, too. The popular 19 Crimes Red Blend contains around 7g of sugar per 175ml glass, while the 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon contains 0.35g per glass.

Jonny said: “This is a great example of why it pays to check the wine style. Two wines from the same brand can have completely different sugar levels.”

If you want to cut back on sugar but still enjoy a glass of wine, the key is to opt for dry reds and whites, as many of these have barely any sugar at all.

Some of the lowest-sugar wines include Campo Viejo Rioja and Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon, both of which contain 0g of sugar per glass, and Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, which typically have under 2g per glass.

Jonny added: “Dry wines are fermented longer, meaning more of the natural grape sugars are converted into alcohol. This is why a bottle of dry red or white will have significantly less sugar than something like a fruit wine or a semi-sweet rosé.”

The NHS recommends that adults consume no more than 30g of free sugars – sugars that are added to food and drinks, or that occur naturally in certain foods – per day.

That means just two glasses of a high-sugar wine could account for nearly the entire daily allowance.

To reduce your sugar intake without giving up wine, opt for dry wines and limit how many glasses of sweet sparkling wines you drink.

You should also check the ABV, as lower-alcohol wines (under 10%) are often higher in sugar, as less fermentation means more residual sweetness.