Is Wine High in Carbs? What You Need to Know
By Space Coast Daily // April 15, 2021
Low carbs diets are becoming increasingly popular. It is an effective method for losing weight and improving overall health.
If you are going on a low-carb diet, you have to cut out foods that are high in carbs, such as starchy foods and vegetables, legumes, refined grains, and some drinks.
When you talk about cutting down on drinks, alcohol comes to mind, and when you think of alcohol, wine comes to mind too. There are conflicting information and recommendations on alcohol consumption when it comes to cutting down on high-carbs.
However, knowing the number of carbs in wine will help you decide whether your choice of wine is doing more damage to your low-carb diet or not. You do not have to worry, though. In this post, we will look at wine in the light of high-carb drinks and all that you need to know when it comes to consuming wines when you are on a low-carb diet.
How High are the Carbs in Wine?
Truth be told, many brands of alcohol have high carbs. Some brands pack more carbs per serving than what you get in desserts, sweets, and soft drinks. For instance, beer is high in carbohydrates because one of its core ingredients is starch. It contains about three to twelve grams of carbs per serving of 12-ounce.
Mixed drinks also come very high in carbs, thanks to their ingredients of sugar and other high-carb content used to enhance their flavor. However, when it comes to wine, the carb level is low. Wine is naturally low in carbs and when it comes to alcoholic beverages, it is still a better choice among all types of alcohols.
A glass of wine contains about 0-4 grams of carbs per serving of 5-ounces. Note that some wines with high residual sugar, pack more carbs than the average wine.
How Do Carbs Get into Wine?
When grapes are harvested, they are naturally high in carbs. They contain sugar, glucose and fructose. However, during fermentation, the yeast consumes the carbs while producing alcohol bubbles and heat. At the end of the fermentation, there will still be some residual sugars left unfermented during the process. These contribute to the net carbs in the wine.
It is important to mention that the residual sugar in wines varies. Additionally, some winemakers, especially commercial winemakers, add extra sugar and artificial sweeteners to the wine to alter the flavor. These types of wines would naturally be high in carbs. However, wines that are made with no additives have less residual sugars and, by extension, fewer carbs.
Is There a Healthy Way to Drink Wine?
According to recent studies, alcohol consumption increases appetite. This ultimately leads to high carbohydrate consumption and weight gain. So, whether you are drinking red or white wine, the keyword is moderation. The rule of the thumb is to measure the carbs in every ounce you take.
With this, you will know when you get to your threshold and need to stop if you do not want to disrupt your diet. Of course, there is nothing wrong with taking a glass of wine when the occasion calls for it. If you also love taking wine with your meal, a few ounces per meal will not do much damage to your diet.
Conclusion
Wine is low in carbs. However, you should be careful when choosing your wine. Many of the cheap commercial wines have more residual sugar. This does not mean that the wines are bad, but you may want to pay attention if you are trying to cut down on carbs.
If you are not particular about carbs, you can enjoy a glass or two of your wine of choice. However, if you are on a diet, it is best to spend a little more on quality wine.
