(CBS 5 / KPIX) A few decades ago, the average California wine contained about twelve percent alcohol. Today they clock in at fifteen, sixteen even seventeen percent. And while the numbers may still seem small, the effect on your health could be serious.

From Chardonnay to Zinfandel, California wines are spending more time on the vine, and feeling the effects of a warmer climate. The result is a number of high voltage wines that are uniquely Californian.

“They're really juicy and fruity and easy drinking,” says Debbie Zachareas of Barcar in San Francisco.

But if you're drinking these new wines your actually getting about 25 percent more alcohol than you would from old 12 percent alternatives. And that extra boost may not be good for your health. You've probably heard that a small amount of wine is good for the heart, but too much over time can also hurt the heart, liver and brain.

“Ideally you should be having 25 percent less of it to have the optimal amount of alcohol, but there is no way of knowing that just by looking at the wine,” says addiction specialist Dr. John Mendelson.

Women, who drink 60 percent of the wine in America, also metabolize alcohol more slowly than men do. So they may run a greater risk of health problems. Studies have also shown that alcohol may even increase the risk of breast cancer.

So while many California wines are packing a greater punch, one winery based in St. Helena is bucking the trend.

“We thought if we could deliver a great tasting, really fresh bright wine that was lower in alcohol for every day consumption, that would be a real positive for women,” says Bettina Ferrando of Berringer Blass Wine Estates.

Ferrando and coworker Tracey Mason are part of the all-female team that has created a new wine that will soon hit the store shelves. The White Lies label is not only lower in alcohol, but also lower in calories than most California bottles.

Other labels are not as quick to advertise their alcohol content. So if you're hoping to watch your intake levels in your current wine selection you may need your reading glasses. Winemakers are required by law to put the content on the label.

You should also know your geography. Cooler climates produce wines with less alcohol. You can also try some classic tricks like adding a little water to the wine, or serving it with food.