The Best Low Calorie Wine
There’s nothing like a glass of wine with dinner or to wind down after a busy day.
And although wine is typically lower in calories than other alcoholic drinks, some wine brands are better than others.
So, if you want to enjoy some wine without unnecessary calories, this low calorie wine list has you covered. Almost everything on this list has well below 100 calories per 5 oz. serving.
And I also included the carb count, sugar content, and ABV of each option, so you don’t have to do any guesswork when picking which wine is for you!
So without further ado, let’s dive into this list of low calorie wine brands!
Is Malbec High In Sugar
Cabernet Sauvignon: A red wine from Argentina that contains plum and cherry aromas. It is a medium to full-bodied wine with a high alcohol concentration and, as a result, is low in sugar and carbohydrate. Malbecs are a dry red wine that has less than 1.5 grams of sugar per glass of red wine and is very near to being practically totally fermented when bottled.
But Why Is Sugar Added To Wine
Some winemakers need to add the White Stuff when they use under-ripe grapes to make their wine not to make wine more sweet, but to enable yeasts to produce more alcohol . This process is called chaptalization, where cane or beet sugar is added to the crushed grapes before the grapes ferment in order to increase the alcohol by volume of the final wine.
So, more sugar content in wine = more alcohol by volume.
Chaptalization is illegal in some countries or states in the US where they can routinely grow grapes with naturally occurring higher sugar content. Chaptalization is not allowed in:
- Argentina
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When It Comes To Dry Red Wines Stick To Small Producers
Mega wine producers use more sugar and unnatural ingredients in the wine to create volume and make for sweeter, more approachable wines. Small producers, however, are much more likely to use a natural winemaking process and no added sugar.
At Maker we work with small, independent wine producers that take pride in their premium wines. Heres the 101 on how we find world-class winemakers to partner with.
So next time you’re scanning the shelves looking for a dry red wine, look for wines with less than 3 g/l residual sugar, some of the dry red wine varietals listed above, or best of all, small, premium, producers.
Better yet? Shop Maker, which checks all the boxes.
Can You Drink Wine On The Keto Diet
For anyone on the keto diet, the question of how much wine is okay to drink actually becomes one of whether its okay to drink wine at all.
You might be able to drink wine on a ketogenic diet, but even small amounts may be enough to bump you out of nutritional ketosis, explains Paul Kriegler, RD, an assistant program manager at Life Time.
While everyone is different in how they metabolically respond to alcohol and any residual sugar in the wine, Kriegler says that, in his experience, people can either follow a strict ketogenic diet or enjoy wine, rarely both concurrently. But it’s not impossible.
If you are looking to find a wine that will stick as closely as possible to your keto diet, though, there are two things to keep in mind, he adds.
First, you want quality over quantity. Look for a well-made, dry wine that youll enjoy one 4 to 6-ounce glass of and be satisfiedprobably not your bargain-priced winesrather than buying for bulk, he says. Second, you should look for a dry wine HOW CAN SOMEONE TELL IF A WINE IS DRY? LOOK FOR A CERTAIN ALCOHOL CONTENT ON THE LABEL? since those tend to keep the sugar content low.
You can also search for wines, which are specifically sold as “low-sugar wines,” though you should always read the nutrition label to make sure it fits into your diet.
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How Much Sugar Is In Red Wine
Depending on the type of red wine you drink, a single glass can contain anything from less around 1g of sugar right up to 15g per glass. Below I’ll go through how sugar makes it’s way into red wine, along with the best and worst offenders if you are trying to cut down your sugar intake.
Sitting down and relaxing with a glass of red wine after a long day of work is a perfect way to unwind. It takes your mind off the stresses of the day, offers antioxidants, and is a healthy beverage if enjoyed in moderation. Red wine does, however, contain some sugar, and if you are trying to live a sugar free lifestyle, it’s important to understand how much sugar is in your red wine, what type of sugar it is, and where it comes from.
Where Does The Sugar In Red Wine Come From?
Sugar in red wine comes directly from the grapes used in the fermentation process. Grapes contain lots of sugar, typically at least 15 grams per cup, depending on the exact type of fruit and how long it has been maturing. This sugar is critical to the wine-making process. In fact, without sugar, wine couldn’t be made!
What Type of Sugar Is In Red Wine?
Many winemakers also add sucrose during the process, in order to increase the alcohol content of the wine. This boost of sugar allows the yeast to produce more alcohol. The process of adding sugar does not typically increase the sugar content of the final product, as most of the added sugar is consumed by the yeast.
So How Much Sugar Is In Different Types Red Wine?
How Much Sugar Is In A Bottle Of Rose
Posted: May 31, 2017. Just 1 bottle of rosé could contain MORE than your recommended. For those watching their waistlines, red wine has the lowest amount of sugar. Reds have around 0.9 grams of sugar and whites have around 1.4 grams of sugar. Dieters should avoid sweet dessert wine and rosé at around 7.5 grams of sugar.
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Why Is Sugar Added To Wine
Winemakers may add sugar to their wine to make them sweeter and easier for some people to enjoy. However, winemakers usually add more sugar to wine to produce higher alcoholic content.
It starts early in the fermentation state when cane or beet sugar is added to the grapes before fermenting. This process provides more sugar for the fermentation yeast to eat, producing more alcohol.
This process has become common mostly in cooler countries and cold-weather growing regions because it helps to increase alcohol levels and make their wine more enjoyable.
However, many countries have banned this practice. For example, Australia, Italy, Argentina, Spain, South Africa, Portugal, and Greece do not allow for chaptalization, while France and Germany do.
What Wine Has The Least Sugar
Sugar is, unsurprisingly, the devil of all dieters. And its not without reason. Sugars empty calories mess with insulin levels, aggravate health problems, and contribute to sleepless nights, to say nothing of helping you gain weight. When a wine enthusiast decides to keep track of his or her sugar intake, its only logical to want to know which wines have the least amount of residual sugar.
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What Is The Healthiest Type Of Wine To Drink
Dry sparkling and white wines, according to Syn, are a good bet if youre looking to cut down on the calories you consume from wine. Brut Champagne, cava, pinot grigio, and sauvignon blanc are among the wines I recommend.These contain less sugar, which contributes to their lower calorie count, she explains.
How Much Sugar Does Wine Have
Wine inherently has sugar because it’s made out of grapes, which are full of sugar. FYI, one cup of grapes has 15 grams of sugar. You know what else has 15 grams of sugar? Capri Sun. We’re suddenly craving but let’s be honest we don’t exactly think of Capri Sun as the drink for dieters. We learned that grapes were ridden with sugar the hard way when we thought we were eating healthy by eating, you guessed it, a ton of grapes. The good news is that the majority of sugar in a bottle of wine comes from the grape’s natural sugar.
So here’s the sitch about wine and sugar. We don’t want to get too into science, but the amount of sugar in wine depends on the fermentation process. Fermentation is the process where grape juice has a beautiful glow up and transforms into an alcoholic beverage. Essentially, yeast eats all of the sugar and turns it into wine. Honestly, wishing we had yeast’s metabolism right about now.
Going back to us, since we’re in influencer mode and making excuses to talk about ourselves, we’ll casually remind you that Bev is sugar free. So we see you, traditional dry white wines, and raise you 0 grams of sugar for the win. Yea, we’re bad-ass girls who take no prisoners!
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How Much Sugar Is In An Average Glass Of Wine
Finding the sugar content in a specific brand or varietal can be a challenge, because beverage companies arent required to list the nutrition content on the label. When in doubt, the overall carbohydrate content can at least help you gauge the sugar content.
Generally speaking, though, heres how the different types of wine stack up:
- Red wine: 1 gram per serving
- White wine: 1.7 grams per serving
- Rosé: 6.8 grams per serving
- Sweet dessert wine: 8 grams per serving
Which Wines Have The Least Carbs And Sugar
If youre trying to cut down on the amount of sugar you consume, the good news is that you can still enjoy a glass of wine – you just have to know what to look out for.
If youre doing the keto diet, you shouldnt be having more than 50g of carbs a day – and a standard glass of red wine contains between 2 and 5 carbs or 85 calories.
However, drinking a bottle is a different story and should be avoided, as it can cost you upwards of 15 carbs.
A small glass of wine every so often isnt too bad for you – but its all about moderation and knowing what wines contain the least amount of carbs and sugar.
There are plenty of low carb and low sugar wine options out there, so keep reading to learn what to look out for.
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Which Red Wine Has The Least Sugar
The lowest-sugar wines are dry reds like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah/Shiraz, which often have less than one gram of sugar per five-ounce pour. Whites that are dry and have a pH of one to one and a half to one and a half to one and Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Viognier all have 5 grams of sugar per five ounces.
Wine With The Least Content Of Sugar
Dry wines with less than 1% sweetness or 10 grams of sugar per liter) have the least amount of residual sugar. Wines that are semi-sweet or off dry often have more than 3% residual sugar.
Here are the wines with the least amount of sugar:
- Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah/Shiraz are examples of dry reds with less than one gram of sugar per five-ounce pour.
- Dry whites, with a sugar content of one to 1.5 grams per five ounces: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Viognier are three of the most popular white wines in the world.
- Sparkling wines with less than two grams of sugar per five ounces include: Extra Brut and Brut
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And These Types Of Wine Have The Most Sugar
Clocking in at seven to nine percent residual sugar, it’s no surprise that dessert wines tend to have the highest sugar content of any wines, says Largeman-Roth.
For context, while a five-ounce glass of Chardonnay has just one gram of sugar, five ounces of Port contains around 12.
The following wines tend to have the most sugar:
- Whites like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Chenin Blanc
- Reds like Cabernet, Zinfandel, and Grenache
- Sweet sparking wines, which range from 17 to 50 grams per liter: Sec, Demi-Sec,and Doux
- Dessert wines, which pack around eight grams per five ounces: Port, Sauternes, and Tokaji
What Colour Wine Has The Lowest Sugar Content
Generally speaking, red wine has the lowest sugar content, with an average of around 0.9g per serving. White wines will usually have around 1.4g of sugar per serving, although this varies by type. Given its sweet nature, it will come as no surprise to learn that a glass of rose could include a huge 21g to 72g of sugar.
However, you shouldnt base your choice purely on sugar content. There are many other factors to consider when evaluating the health implications of different wines. Take red wine, for example. Whilst it may have the lowest sugar content, red wines tend to have a higher overall calorie content than other wines, partly due to its higher alcohol content. Its best to understand the whole picture when determining which wine is right for your needs.
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What Is Dry Wine Anyways
Dry is often misused as a wine descriptor it does not refer to a wine that is drying. A dry wine is on the opposite end of the spectrum to a sweet wine, its a wine with no residual sugar. Per our Maker wine terms glossary, grape juice becomes wine when all the natural sugars from the fruit are eaten up by yeast and converted to alcohol and C02 through a process called fermentation. In a dry wine, fermentation has been allowed to complete fully, and there is no residual sugar left in the wine.
Even more confusingly, just because we perceive a wine as sweet, does not necessarily mean it isnt a dry wine! Ripe fruits and floral notes can create the perception of sweetness even if there is no residual sugar, especially if the wine doesnt have the acidity or tannins to balance that fruitiness.
And what should you call that drying sensation in your mouth with some wines? Fun fact, thats actually caused by tannins, which are naturally occurring compounds from grape seeds and skins.
Understanding Sugar Levels In Wine
Now that you know the bad news about consuming too much sugar, we have some good news: You don’t have to take wine off the table. While there is technically no such thing as sugar-free wine since all alcohol is derived from sugar, there are wines that exist without any added sugars. Case in point: Usual Wines, which have zero added sugars, additives, chemicals, or sulfites.
There are several factors that affect the sugar content in wine, including when the grapes are harvested and how long they’re allowed to ferment. For example, varietals like Riesling, Chenin Blanc, and Sémillon are often left on the vine longer , which results in a riper, sweeter, and raisinated wine grape with more concentrated sugar levels.
The fermentation process is another factor that directly affects the sugar content in wine. As you may have learned in our guide to winemaking, fermentation is the most critical part of wine production.
During this process, naturally occurring sugars are converted into carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol. If fermentation is halted before all the sugars are converted into alcohol, the result is a sweeter wine with more residual sugar. If the fermentation process is allowed to run its course, there will be less sugar, resulting in a drier wine.
Good To Know: Usual Wines are made the Old-World way, in small batches from sustainably farmed grapes with minimal intervention and absolutely no added sugars or other additives.
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How To Measure Sugar
In the chart above youll see sugar measured as grams per liter sugar or . Residual Sugar is usually displayed in 1 of three ways: in grams/Liter, in grams/100ml, or as a percentage. For example, 10 grams per liter of residual sugar is equal to 1 percent sweetness.
Wines range from 0 to 220 grams per liter sugar , depending on the style. In case you didnt know, dry-tasting wines contain up to 10 grams of sugar per bottle.
- Bone-Dry< 1 sugar calories per glass
- Dry 0-6 sugar calories per glass
- Off-Dry 621 sugar calories per glass
- Sweet 2172 sugar calories per glass
- Very Sweet 72130 sugar calories per glass
The terms above are unofficial but do show common ranges. Currently, most countries arent required to label actual sweetness levels in wine.
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What Is The Nicest Red Wine
The Best Red Wines to Drink NowBordeaux: Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2015. Spain: Bodegas Vega Sicilia Unico Tinto 2009. Rhône: René Rostaing Cote-Rotie La Landonne 2013. Spain: La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 Tinto 2010. Burgundy: Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 2013. Tuscany: Antinori Tignanello 2016.More itemsJun 3, 2020
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Why Does The Sugar Content Vary In Wine
The sugar content in wine is the result of what is left behind by the grapes after they have been through the winemaking process. Grapes contain naturally occuring sugars. To turn the grapes into wine, they are fermented in a process where yeast is added to the juice, causing the natural sugars to be broken down into alcohol. However, not all of the sugars are converted, and those that are left over remain in the final product as residual sugars.
For this reason, aged wines tend to have a lower sugar content as they have more time to ferment. Dry wines also tend to have a lower sugar content as the yeast eats up all of the naturally occurring sugars without leaving behind residual sugars.
On the other hand, sweet wines often have more sugar because the winemaker stops the yeast from fermenting the grapes by rapidly cooling the wine. If a really sweet wine is desired, some winemakers also add sugar to the wine after fermentation.