Reduced-calorie wines can save you even more calories, perhaps enough to earn a few bites of cheese or chocolate. Of course, you have to also ask yourself
The savings
Sugar is a hot topic these days, and some reduced-calorie wines claim to have practically no sugar at all. For example, FitVine claims its wines have less than 0.2 grams per 5-ounce glass. However, according to Bershaw, "there are many high-quality whites, and most reds, which contain very little residual sugar. So, from this perspective, these wines are just like many others on the market."
In fact, according to the US Department of Agriculture's national nutrient database, a 5-ounce glass of red table wine typically contains less than 1 gram of sugar, while a glass of white wine contains about 1.4 grams.
he more alcohol, the more calories The way to reduce calories in wine is to lower the amount of alcohol, according to Bershaw. "Unless we are talking about overtly sweet wines, alcohol content is by far the largest driver of calories," he said. But this creates a bit of mystery. FitVine's ABV (alcohol by volume, a measure of how much alcohol is in a given amount of a drink) ranges from 13.4% to 13.9%, similar to other wines, according to Bershaw. He is unsure why FitVine's reduced-calorie wines are lower in calories than other wines with a similar alcohol and sugar content.
When Bershaw did a calculation for a lower-alcohol (12.5%) Riesling, it was slightly lower in calories than FitVine's wines because of the lower ethanol (alcohol) content. In other words, there may be other lower-calorie wines out there, but they just may not be marketed as such, he explained.
Cense's Sauvignon Blanc, the product of a partnership between Truett Hurst Wineries and Weight Watchers, is made using an exclusive technology that offers consumers a wine with an ABV of 9.6% and only 85 calories per 5-ounce glass (or three SmartPoints). "In essence, we can capture the alcohol and take what percentage out we want, but we keep the aromas and essences and mouthfeel of a full alcohol wine.
"Low-alcohol wines can be great-tasting wines, and they are usually more food friendly (pairing well with meals) than the high-alcohol wines that were popular five to 10 years ago" Bershaw said. "Plus, you can drink two or three glasses without feeling like you need to go to bed early."
The bottom line
Wine may protect our hearts and reduce diabetes risk when consumed in moderation -- defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men -- but drinking more can increase health risks.
"For me, it is flavor, balance and how it works with the food I am planning to cook or order in a restaurant. Personally I would never give up these important attributes to consume 25 or 30 calories less. If you give up one dessert a week, you can probably save more calories and enjoy a range of wines all week long and still come out ahead on the caloric scale."
Bottom line: Choose the wine you like the taste of best, limit your intake, and savor every sip.