Nutrition Information for Wine
Wine producers in America are not required to display nutritional information on their packaging, nor are they required to disclose an ingredient list. However, this information is often available through third parties, and some wineries will publish it upon request. The nutritional content of wine differs with every variety. Sweeter wines and wines with a higher alcohol content will nearly always contain more sugar and calories.
Ingredients
Wine is usually made from a short list of ingredients: fermented grape juice, sulfites, yeast, and perhaps additional sugar or acid. As far as alcoholic beverages go, wine is one of the most "natural" options.
Portions
A serving of red or white wine is 5 oz., slightly a serving of a dessert wine (about 3 oz.) or a serving of champagne (about 4 oz.). Wine glasses vary greatly in size, so keep in mind that you may be accustomed to pouring a portion much smaller or larger than this standard. On average, there are four to five servings or glasses of wine in each bottle.
Calories
Exact calorie content is specific to the particular wine, but a safe estimate for consumption is that each serving of red wine or white wine contains around 110 calories. Champagne contains less, at about 80 calories per serving. Any flavored champagne or wine will contain more calories, as will dessert wine. Wine blends with sweet-sounding names such as "Strawberry White Zinfandel" or "Sunny Peach Wine" can run up to 200 calories per serving.
Nutritional Breakdown
Wine has very little nutritional content, but it is fairly low-calorie. Carbohydrates account for 98 to 100 percent of wine's calories. Wine contains almost no protein or fat.
Health Benefits
Alcohol, when drunk in moderation, raises the amount of HDL (or "good" cholesterol) and thins the blood. Wine also contains phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring compounds that have been proven to reduce a person's risk of heart disease and cancer. Because the skin is left on the grape for much longer during the production of red wine, red wine in particular is high in antioxidants, including flavanoids and resveratrol. Resveratrol has to prevent blood clots and harmful formations in the arteries. In animals, high doses of resveratrol have slowed the development of cancer.
History
Hippocrates prescribed wine as a medicinal aid, diuretic, disinfectant and nutritional supplement as early as 400 B.C.
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