How Many Calories in a Glass of Red Wine?
People often think of wine as a high-calorie drink, but what many people don’t realize is that there are ways to enjoy a glass without going over your daily calorie count.
First off, red wines typically have fewer calories than white or rose’ wines because they contain less sugar. If you’re counting your calories it’s important to know exactly how much sugar is in the wine you’re drinking.
Red wines usually range from 10-30 grams of sugar per 5 oz serving with an average of around 15 grams. This number will obviously vary depending on the brand and type of red wine being consumed since some may have more or less sugar than others. For comparison, a 12 oz can of Coca-Cola has 42 g of sugar.
What is the Source of Calories in Red Wine?
We all want to know how many calories are in red wine because it is not something that people think about when they drink red wine, but it should be.
It might shock some people to find out the number of calories consumed if you are drinking red wine on a regular basis without accounting for the number of calories you are consuming with your alcohol intake.
In red wine, the calories come from the alcohol and sugar content.
In a standard glass of red wine with 5 percent alcohol by volume, there are about 125 calories.
However, red wines with higher alcohol content can contain as much as 320-350 calories per glass depending on how full-bodied the red wine is.
Red wines that are more full-bodied have a higher sugar content to go along with them which also contributes to their caloric value. Red wines containing high amounts of tannins will often be given higher ratings because they have more body and will contain these sugars as well as the fat that red meat contains making for an even bigger calorie load in your bloodstream after you drink them.
Health Benefits of Red Wine
Red wine has been linked to health benefits such as the lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes as well as an increase in “good” cholesterol.
While red wine can assist healthy outcomes, the negative effects alcohol has on your body, such as inhibiting red blood cell production as well as depleting vitamins and minerals from your body, outweigh these benefits.
If you think about how many red wines you consume per week, there is a big difference between drinking one glass of red wine with 125 calories compared to five glasses at 625 calories.
Knowing how many calories are in red wine will help you make decisions on how often to drink red wine or not because knowing this information may change the way you view and consume red wine.
There are non-alcoholic versions of red wines available if you want all of the health benefits without consuming red wine’s alcohol.
Keep in mind that red wines with high sugar content will have a higher amount of calories per glass due to the additional sugars present that red wine drinkers love so much.
The body processes sugar quickly, which is why red wine makes you feel good and energized as opposed to full from eating a dessert.
It might even shock you more to discover how many red wine calories there really are in every glass!
Would you believe that red wines can actually be considered healthier than white or rosé wines?
That’s right. Red wines contain fewer sugars than white and rosé alcoholic beverages do. This means red wines will contribute fewer carbohydrates and your body does not have to process them as quickly as other alcoholic drinks.
Red wine is a complex drink with complex sugars and complex carbohydrates. Thus it’s a good idea to find out how many red wine calories you’re drinking before you guzzle down a couple of glasses of red instead of white during your next dinner party.
Are There Low-Calorie Wines?
Red wine is known to contain antioxidants, which are chemicals that act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents (1). These polyphenols within red wine may help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer (2), but red wine can also lead to weight gain. Because red wine contains roughly 125 calories per 5 oz glass, it’s not the best choice for those trying to control their weight.
One way red wine drinkers try to cut calories is by drinking red wines made from low-carbohydrate grapes, particularly Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes. These wines have slightly fewer carbohydrates than other red wines– around 3 or 4 grams per glass rather than 5 grams in a typical glass of red wine.
Carbs aren’t the only source of calories in red wine. Alcohol itself has 7 calories per gram, meaning red wine contains around 40 percent alcohol– higher than beer or white wine.
Although red wines are high in alcohol and carbs, moderate red wine consumption is good for your heart.
To reap the benefits of red wine, drink it in moderation — 1 or 2 glasses per day.
Red wines with lower sugar content are better choices if you’re looking to cut calories. These reds have lighter bodies and less residual sugar – two factors that cause some red wines to be sweeter tasting than white wines.
Another way to reduce caloric intake from red wine is by drinking a glass of red wine along with a glass of water. Drinking the combination will reduce alcohol levels quickly enough so you won’t get drunk, but your red wine will still be enjoyable.
Does Red Wine Contain “Empty Calories?”
You Betcha!
In a study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers were surprised to find that red wine is packed with empty calories. In fact, a single glass of pinot noir contains as many calories as two chocolate chip cookies or four slices of pepperoni pizza.
Yes, you heard me right. A single glass of red wine contains about 120 empty calories — mostly from alcohol and calories from the sugar added during the winemaking process.
However, there’s good news for those who prefer white wines. Because the skin is left on grapes during production, white wines have fewer empty calories than those made from red grapes. So if you drink wines made from white grapes instead, they contain fewer empty calories.
Conclusion
If you’re someone who has a drink or two before dinner, red wine might be your best option. The antioxidants in the beverage will help to lower your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure–as well as some types of cancer. But it’s important not to over-indulge.
Remember that every alcoholic cocktail contains calories, so if you have more than one glass per meal, you might want to look for another type of alcohol with fewer calories. There are many other ways to get health benefits from drinking red wine without consuming too many extra calories; try having just one glass each night at dinner instead of an entire bottle by yourself!