Ethyl alcohol is, next to water, the major component in wine. There are standards for the amount of alcohol permitted in wines which vary depending on the country of origin. Most wines available in the American market range from 8 to 15 percent (16 to 30 proof) with fortified wines ranging as high as 21 percent alcohol (42 proof). If you open a bottle of wine and find the alcohol taste to be too high for your taste, either decant the wine or allow it to sit in the opened bottle for an hour or so.