Our commitment to drinking responsibly
Drinking is only fun when you don’t overdo it
It will come as no surprise that everyone at Virgin Wines loves their wine. Whether it’s a glass of wine to enjoy with dinner or a bottle of bubbly to share with friends. However, we also know there is a serious side to alcohol and that drinking is only fun when you don’t overdo it.
Units in alcohol
Units are something that are often mentioned when it comes to alcohol, but what do they actually mean? In basic terms, units are a good way of measuring how much you have had to drink, and knowing how they work will help you keep things sensible.
There are a few factors that influence the units in your glass. For instance, the strength of your drink (ABV percentage) will determine the number of units it contains, and, of course, we don’t all own the same size glasses or always pour precise amounts. This means we have rough guidelines to how many units are in a glass of wine, but the numbers can never be exact.
The guidelines below will help you perfect your pour.
Red wine
The average red wine is around 13% to 14% ABV and best served in a large glass.
125ml - 1.7 units
175ml - 2.4 units
250ml - 3.4 units
White wine
The average white wine is around 11% to 12% ABV and best served in a medium glass.
125ml - 1.4 units
175ml - 2.0 units
250ml - 2.9 units
Rosé wine
The average rosé wine is around 11% to 12% ABV and best served in a medium glass.
125ml - 1.4 units
175ml - 2.0 units
250ml - 2.9 units
Sparkling wine
The average sparkling wine is around 11.5% to 12.5% ABV and typically served in a flute or coupe glass. These are the only wine glasses that should ever be filled nearly to the top.
125ml - 1.5 units
175ml - 2.1 units
250ml - 3.0 units
We always clearly state a wine’s ABV on our website, and give you the option to sort our listing pages so that the lowest ABV wines show first.
Our wine tasting events
While our events are a fantastic way to try an array of different wines from around the world, it’s important to us that everyone can enjoy the experience without overindulging.
Here are a few steps we take - and tips we recommend to customers who attend - to make sure everyone has a great time.
1) We pour small measures
The tasting measures we pour may not look very big individually, but they all add up. So, we keep these small to help ensure you don’t end up drinking more than you might have intended to.
2) We have water at every table
There is always water available alongside the wine. It’s a good idea to have a glass at regular points throughout the event to keep yourself well hydrated (plus, it’ll cleanse your palate before savouring your next wine).
3) We place spittoons around the room
You’ll find a large spittoon beside every table for you to use at any point. So, if you’d prefer to taste but not drink, or have simply had enough of the wine in your glass, you can dispose of it discreetly and move on.
4) We encourage you to eat
We recommend eating something substantial before you join us at one of our tastings. We also aim to have snacks available at every event to prevent drinking on an empty stomach.
We are here to support you
If you wish to stop receiving wine offers and marketing materials from us, you can opt-out of communications by heading to the 'Contact methods' page found under 'My Account'. Alternatively, please contact us at help@virginwines.co.uk.
If you wish to close your account completely so it cannot be accessed, please also contact help@virginwines.co.uk.
If you are worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call Drinkline - a free national alcohol helpline - and speak to them in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
