Wine Nutrition Facts

If you're a dieter who drinks, you may want to be careful. Wine calories add up quickly. While some dieters spend time analyzing their food intake, dieters who enjoy happy hour should calculate the calories in white wine or red wine, instead. So should you skip the wine when you're on a diet? Not necessarily.

Wine Nutrition Facts

The number of calories in wine depends on the type of wine you choose and the serving size. You won't find a Nutrition Facts label on a bottle of wine, so it's smart to do some detective work before you imbibe.

Generally, white wine calories are lowest. A very small serving of white wine provides 84 calories (as indicated on the label). But a more typical serving of dry white wine (148 grams or 5 ounces) contains 123 calories. Sweeter wines also tend to be higher in calories. A glass of Barefoot Moscato, for example, provides almost 130 calories

Red wine calories are also higher.  A single serving of red wine is six ounces and contains approximately 150 calories. It’s also important to remember that red wine is often served in a larger glass than white wine and it’s easy to drink a portion that contains more calories. Calories in a glass of red wine can be substantial if you order it in a restaurant, because you may be served six, seven, or even eight ounces.

Each bottle of wine provides roughly five to six servings. So you'll consume about 500 calories in a bottle of wine. But, of course, drinking an entire bottle is not recommended.

Health Benefits

Some studies have suggested that wine, particularly red wine, may provide certain benefits, including improved heart health and longevity.

In particular, researchers have investigated a flavonoid called resveratrol and its impact on heart health.

But the National Institutes of Health cautions drinkers to take the promising news with a grain of salt. They recommend only light or moderate drinking. Moderate drinking for women is defined as one drink per day and for men one to two drinks per day.  One drink is defined as four ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor or one ounce of 100-proof liquor.

They do not recommend that people start drinking to take advantage of benefits.

Selecting Low-Calorie Wine

If you're looking for a low-calorie alternative to wine, you’ll have a hard time finding one. There are only a few low diet-friendly wine choices on store shelves.

The popular Skinnygirl brand (famous for the Skinnygirl Margarita) sells several different wine varieties, including a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Prosecco, California White and others. But the calorie count is not necessarily lower than other wines. A 5-ounce serving of Skinnygirl wine provides 100 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrate.

If you enjoy sauvignon blanc, consider buying Cense wine. The premium brand can be purchased online and in some retails stores and is endorsed by Weight Watchers.

Each five-ounce glass provides just 85 calories or 3 Weight Watchers Smartpoints.

Another brand called Bon Affair is sold in some stores across the country and offers low calorie red and white wine spritzers. The Sauvignon Blanc Spritz, for example, provides just 62 calories per 5-ounce pour. And there are only 300 calories in a full bottle of wine.

Of course, you can also make your own wine spritzer by mixing sparkling water with your favorite wine. Some drinkers also add ice to their white wine to reduce calories, slow the drinking process and keep their drink cold.

If you can't find a low-calorie wine in your area.

Your best bet is to drink the wine you like, but less often and only in moderation. Measure your wine in a measuring cup once or twice to make sure that you are only drinking a single serving.

The Effects of Alcohol on Weight Loss

Regardless of the calories, drinking wine when you're on a diet can be tricky for other reasons. Alcohol can have an effect on your daily nutrition and your eating habits might change when you drink. You're probably going to be more likely to snack on high calorie, high fat or high salt foods when you consume alcohol. And if you drink too much, it could derail your workout plans for the next morning.

For all of these reasons, many dieters cut back on booze to lose weight. Some eliminate wine, beer , and cocktails altogether. The right decision for you is a personal one. Just be sure to consider all the facts before you belly up to the bar.