Benefits of Low-Calorie Wines

Whether you’re having friends over for a get-together or looking to snuggle up and watch a movie, a glass of wine in hand is always a good choice. While there is nothing wrong with indulging in your favorite varietal, some emerging low-calorie wine options could blow you away. At Joe Canal's in Woodbridge, New Jersey, we know there are benefits to choosing low-calorie wines, and we explain some of them here.

What Is a Low-Calorie Wine?

Low-calorie wines, often called skinny wines, are, as the name suggests, wine options with a lower calorie count. Most regular wines contain upwards of 120 calories per five-ounce serving, with red wines containing even more. If you are a fan of dessert wines, such as sherry, ice wine, or port, you could be looking at nearly 250 calories per five-ounce pour. This is about as much as you would find in a whole candy bar.

In recent years, winemakers have put an emphasis on creating exciting and flavorful low-calorie wines. Many of these options contain less than 100 calories per serving, with some, like certain sparkling brut and prosecco offerings, as low as 80 calories. These wines can still provide a punch with over 10% alcohol by volume (ABV). This means you can enjoy the taste and experience of higher-calorie wines without the guilt.

While low-calorie wines are becoming more popular, their creation process is nothing new. Winemakers ferment grapes the same as they would with their higher-calorie counterparts, but they simply choose grapes with lower calorie content. Areas like Germany, France, and New Zealand are generally cooler, making it easy for winemakers to choose grapes that are not quite as ripe, which results in less calories. Additionally, when making wines like sparkling wines, wineries will add another batch of sugar after their second fermentation. In order to end up with a low-calorie wine, they merely reduce the amount of sugar added or add none at all.

What Makes Low-Calorie Wine a Good Choice?

Whether you are on a strict diet or just want to keep an eye on your calorie intake, low-calorie wine is an easy way to cut back. Alcohol in general contains sugar, which is why the calorie content is usually high. Low-calorie wines allow you to still enjoy the perks of your favorite alcoholic drink without worrying about ruining the hard work you've put into eating healthy. Even if you're not counting calories, should you choose a low-calorie dessert wine, you'll be able to indulge in a delicious slice of pie or cheesecake along with it knowing your drink choice is helping to offset the calories in the sweet snack.

You might think there aren't many skinny wine choices out there, but you'd be surprised. Over the past few years, more and more wine brands, big and small, are choosing to put time, money, and ingenuity into crafting low-calorie options. Whether you like red, white, or sparkling wine, you're sure to find something to please your palate.

Lastly, while low-calorie options can come with high ABV percentages like high-calorie ones, you can also find plenty of choices with lower ABV percentages. Not only will this help you avoid overindulging or dealing with hangovers, but it’s simply a smart choice for your health in general.

Find Low-Calorie Wine at Joe Canal's

Understanding the benefits of low-calorie wine is easy, but selecting your favorite one is the hard part. At Joe Canal's, we have a wide selection of fine wines from brands all over the globe. Contact us to learn more or view the inventory at our location in Woodbridge, New Jersey.