What's Actually in Blackberry Wine? Ingredients, Calories, and What the Research Says:

Published by Purple Toad Winery & Distillery | purpletoadwinery.com

Most wine labels do not tell you what is actually inside the bottle. 

Blackberry wine is no exception. You will see "Contains Sulfites" and an alcohol percentage, but that is about it. Meanwhile, 47.5% of Gen Z consumers say they want ingredient and nutrition information on every alcohol product they buy.6 The gap between what consumers want to know and what the label tells them is enormous. 

So here is the full picture on blackberry wine ingredients -- what actually goes into the bottle, what the calories and carbs look like, and what peer-reviewed research has observed about the naturally occurring compounds in blackberry wine. At Purple Toad, we use real blackberry concentrate -- never artificial flavoring -- in wines like our flagship Black and Bruised and Lauren's Blackberry. No mystery ingredients. No marketing spin. 

 

What Goes Into Blackberry Wine? 

Blackberry wine is made from a short, simple list of ingredients: 

 

Here is what each one does:

Real Blackberry Concentrate 

The primary ingredient. Purple Toad uses real blackberry concentrate -- never artificial flavoring. The blackberry flavor in the finished wine comes from actual fruit. This is why fruit wine tastes like the fruit: the flavor comes directly from the ingredient itself, not from a synthetic compound.

Sugar 

Sugar feeds the yeast during fermentation -- yeast converts it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Any residual sugar left after fermentation contributes to the wine's sweetness. 

Yeast 

The engine of fermentation. Wine yeast converts sugars into alcohol while producing esters and aromatic compounds that shape the wine's character. Without yeast, there is no wine. 

Acid Blend 

A combination of citric, malic, and tartaric acids that balances pH and gives the wine structure. Proper acidity preserves freshness and prevents the wine from tasting flat.1 

Water 

Used to adjust the must (crushed fruit mixture) to the proper concentration before fermentation. 

Sulfites 

A preservative (sulfur dioxide) that prevents oxidation and spoilage. Sulfites occur naturally during fermentation -- even wines with no added sulfites contain trace levels. In plain language: sulfites keep your wine from turning to vinegar. If the finished wine has more than 10 parts per million, the label is required to say, "Contains Sulfites." This is standard in virtually all wines, fruit and grape alike. 

 

Blackberry Wine Calories and Nutrition 

How does blackberry wine compare to other popular drinks on a calorie and carbohydrate basis? Here is the breakdown per standard serving:2,3

Sources: Wine Folly Sugar in Wine Chart; Wine.com Nutrition Facts 

A few things worth noting: Sweet wines like Purple Toad's blackberry wines naturally have more residual sugar than dry grape wines, which adds calories from carbohydrates. The trade-off is bold, real fruit flavor. Hard seltzers have fewer calories, but they also have virtually no flavor from natural ingredients. You are getting something very different for those extra calories. 

Blackberry wine contains 0g fat and 0g protein. The calorie range (130--170 per 5 oz serving) reflects the variation across different production styles -- a drier blackberry wine will sit at the lower end; a sweeter style at the higher end. 

What Compounds Are in Blackberry Wine? 

Beyond the ingredient label, researchers have studied what naturally occurring chemical compounds are present in blackberry wine. This is science about what is in the bottle -- not a claim about what drinking it does for you. 

Polyphenols (Total Phenolic Content) 

Polyphenols are a broad category of plant-based compounds. A 2012 study by Mudnic et al. in the Journal of Medicinal Food measured the total phenolic content (TPC) of multiple wine samples. Blackberry wines in that study averaged 1,697 to 2,789 mg GAE/L -- less than the red grape wines tested (3,225--3,313 mg GAE/L) but substantially higher than white grape wines (379--482 mg GAE/L).

Non-Flavonoid Compounds 

Within the polyphenol family, Mudnic et al. found that blackberry wines had 773--1,486 mg/L of non-flavonoid compounds -- several times higher than the grape wines in the same study. Gallic acid was particularly notable: blackberry wines showed gallic acid concentrations 2--3 times higher than either red or white grape wines.

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are the pigments responsible for the deep red-purple color of blackberry wine. A 2020 study by Jakobek et al. in Foods analyzed 15 blackberry wine samples and found anthocyanin levels ranging from 13 to 164 mg/L -- comparable to some red grape wines.

Trans-Resveratrol 

Resveratrol, a compound often cited in discussions of grape wine, is also present in blackberry wine in small amounts. Mudnic et al. detected trans-resveratrol in blackberry wines at levels similar to those found in some grape wines.

 

What Researchers Have Found 

 

With that important context established, here is what researchers have actually studied and published about blackberry wine's compound profile:

Mudnic et al. (2012) -- Antioxidant Capacity 

Mudnic and colleagues published in vitro (laboratory) measurements of antioxidant capacity across blackberry and grape wines. Their finding: "Although some blackberry wines had lower total phenolic content relative to the red grape wines, their antioxidant capacity was stronger, which may be related to a higher content of non-flavonoid compounds (most notably gallic acid)."

Jakobek et al. (2020) -- Bioactive Phenolic Compounds 

Jakobek and colleagues analyzed 15 blackberry wine samples and confirmed that blackberry wine is "a natural source of bioactive phenolic compounds that have profound antioxidant potential," with total polyphenol content averaging nearly 2,000 mg/L.5

 

Purple Toad's Blackberry Wines: What You Are Actually Drinking 

Purple Toad's flagship wine is Black and Bruised -- a bold blackberry blend and the one most people reach for first. Alongside it, Lauren's Blackberry is another fan favorite. Both are produced and bottled in Paducah, Kentucky, using real blackberry concentrate as the primary ingredient. 

• Real fruit concentrate -- the flavor comes from blackberries, not from artificial flavoring • No artificial colors -- the deep red-purple hue is natural, from anthocyanins • Vegan and gluten-free -- suitable for a wide range of dietary preferences • Available at both tasting rooms -- Bowling Green and Paducah 

• Ships to 29 states + D.C. -- order at purpletoadwinery.com 

Who it is for: If you typically do not like dry red wines -- or if you are new to wine entirely -- Black and Bruised is a natural starting point. It is bold, fruit-forward, smooth, and has zero tannin bitterness. Perfect for casual sipping, pairing with desserts, or handing to the friend who says they "don't like wine." For a deeper look at the flavor profile, see our Blackberry Wine Authority post. 

Beyond Wine -- Purple Toad Spirits 

Purple Toad is also a licensed distillery. If you want something beyond wine -- or something to mix into cocktails -- our spirits lineup includes: 

• Cotton Candy Vodka (70 proof, $19.99) -- sweet, smooth, and made for mixing

• Mango Habanero Vodka (80 proof, $19.99) -- tropical heat for adventurous cocktails

• Kentucky Moonshine (110 proof, $22.99) -- available in a collectible skull bottle

• Agave Spirits (80--100 proof, $29.99) -- Purple Toad's take on tequila-style sipping 

All spirits are available at both tasting room locations. 

 

Visit Us or Order Online

Purple Toad Winery & Distillery operates two full tasting room locations in Kentucky: 

Bowling Green Flagship

• 6245 Cemetery Road, Bowling Green, KY 42103 

• Mon--Thu 10:30 AM -- 6:30 PM | Fri--Sat 10:30 AM -- 8:00 PM | Sun 10:30 AM -- 6:30 PM

 • 20,000 sq ft tasting room with 65-foot bar and 25-foot spirits bar 

• 60 miles north of Nashville on I-65 

Paducah Location (Where It All Started) 

• 4275 Old US Hwy 45 S, Paducah, KY 42003 

• Sun--Thu 10:30 AM -- 6:00 PM | Fri--Sat 10:30 AM -- 8:00 PM 

• Tours: Saturdays 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM, Sundays 2:30 PM ($10/person, includes wine glass)

 • #1 thing to do in Paducah on TripAdvisor (4.8 stars) 

Can't make it in person? Purple Toad ships directly to 29 states plus D.C.

Shop Black and Bruised -- taste what real fruit wine is supposed to be. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What ingredients are in blackberry wine? 

Blackberry wine is made from real blackberries, sugar, yeast, an acid blend, water, and sulfites. Purple Toad's blackberry wines contain no artificial flavors and no artificial colors. The bold flavor comes directly from real fruit, and the deep color comes from naturally occurring anthocyanins in the blackberries. 

Q: How many calories are in blackberry wine? 

Approximately 130--170 calories per 5 oz serving, depending on the sweetness level. Sweeter styles have more residual sugar, which adds carbohydrates and calories. Carbs range from about 10g to 24g per serving. Fat and protein are both 0g.2,3 

Q: Does blackberry wine have antioxidants? 

Research has identified polyphenolic compounds -- including gallic acid and anthocyanins -- in blackberry wine. These are naturally occurring compounds derived from the fruit. A 2020 study in Foods found total polyphenol content averaging nearly 2,000 mg/L across 15 blackberry wine samples.5 This does not mean that drinking blackberry wine provides health benefits. These are laboratory measurements of what is present in the bottle, not clinical claims.

Q: Is blackberry wine gluten-free? 

Yes. Purple Toad's wines -- including Black and Bruised and Lauren's Blackberry -- are gluten-free and vegan. Wine is made from fruit, yeast, and a small number of processing aids; there are no gluten-containing grains in the production process. 

Q: What does blackberry wine taste like? 

Bold, fruit-forward blackberry flavor with smooth sweetness and minimal tannins -- meaning none of the mouth-drying bitterness you can get from red grape wines. The flavor is direct and recognizable because it comes from real blackberries. For a full flavor profile and tasting notes, see our Blackberry Wine Authority blog post. 

Q: Where can I buy blackberry wine? 

Purple Toad's blackberry wines -- including Black and Bruised and Lauren's Blackberry -- are available at both tasting rooms: 6245 Cemetery Road, Bowling Green, KY and 4275 Old US Hwy 45 S, Paducah, KY. You can also order online at purpletoadwinery.com -- Purple Toad ships to 29 states plus D.C.

 

Sources 

1. Craft a Brew, "Fruit Wine vs Grape Wine: Key Differences Explained" (2025) -- https://craftabrew.com/blogs/the-tap/fruit-wine-vs-grape-wine

2. Wine Folly, "Sugar in Wine Chart" (2015) -- https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/sugar-in-wine-chart/ 

3. Wine.com, "Wine Nutrition Facts" (2026) https://www.wine.com/content/landing/nutrition 

4. Mudnic et al., "Antioxidant and Vasodilatory Effects of Blackberry and Grape Wines," Journal of Medicinal Food (2012) -- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3282468/ 

5. Jakobek et al., "Assessment of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Blackberry Wines," Foods (2020) -- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7694964/ 

6. Wine Market Council, "2025 U.S. Consumer Benchmark Segmentation Survey" (2025) -- https://winemarketcouncil.com/new-wine-market-council-study-finds-millennials-now-largest-u-s-wine-drinking-cohort/