Have you ever wondered about the calories in white wine? Do you worry about going out, knowing you might pay the price for caloric overindulgence?
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that women who drink wine moderately and regularly tend to gain less weight and are more likely to avoid obesity compared to their non-drinking counterparts.
In another study conducted in 2008, it was found that 70% of women showed a marked preference for white wines. In terms of calories, this could be a positive thing. On average, white wine contains 5 fewer calories than red wine of similar types if they have the same alcohol content.
Are There That Many Calories in White Wine?
To answer this, we need to understand a bit about basic physics, nutrition, and the wine itself.
Most people associate calories with weight gain, and this can be partially true. However, a calorie, by itself, is not a nutritional item. A calorie is simply a unit of energy. One calorie is the energy required to heat 1 gram of water by 1°C (or 1.6°F). A fundamental rule of physics is that energy cannot be destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another, such as from electrical to mechanical energy or heat. So, if a grape contains “X” calories and we add sugar and yeast to ferment it, the final product will have the “X” calories from the grape, plus the calories from the sugar and yeast. The caloric value of any food is essentially an estimate of its energy potential.
Most of the calories in white wine come from sugar. Wine is made by allowing yeast to feed on the sugar in the grape juice, which is primarily fructose. The yeast metabolizes the sugar into ethanol (ethyl alcohol). The alcohol content is typically increased by adding more sugar to the juice, which allows the yeast to produce more alcohol. Dry wines have more sugar converted to alcohol than sweet wines, which leave some sugar unfermented for sweetness. In terms of calories, there’s little difference between sweet and dry wines because the body processes alcohol like any other sugar, converting it into simple carbohydrates. These carbohydrates fuel the body’s functions, and what is not used immediately gets stored as fat. When fat cells become saturated, the body creates more, leading to weight gain. Essentially, weight gain is a result of calories consumed versus calories expended. That’s all there is to it.
The alcohol content of beverages is often expressed as “proof,” which is double the percentage of alcohol by volume. For instance, a 28-proof wine contains 14% alcohol by volume. This allows you to calculate the calories in any alcoholic beverage. The formula is:
1.6 x a x b, where a = the percentage of alcohol in the wine, and b = the amount of wine you’re drinking. 1.6 is a constant representing the calories in a given volume of solution. So, if you have a 4 oz. glass of medium-dry Chardonnay at 14% alcohol, the calculation would be:
1.6 x 14 x 4 = 89.6 calories.
Comparing the Calories in White Wine to Other Common Beverages
Coffee (4 oz.) – 1 calorie; add 1 Tbsp sugar – 49 calories
Tea (4 oz.) – 1 calorie; add 1 Tbsp sugar – 49 calories
Coca Cola (4 oz.) – 46.6 calories
Diet Sodas (4 oz.) – 0.25 calories
Water (any amount) – 0 calories
Fruit or Vegetable Juices (4 oz.) – 20-50 calories
1% Milk (4 oz.) – 55 calories
Egg Nog (4 oz.) – 175 calories
Beer (4 oz.) – 50 calories
Bourbon, Scotch, Vodka, etc. (4 oz.) – 350 calories
Amaretto, Coffee Liqueur, etc. (4 oz.) – 500+ calories
As you can see, wine is on the higher end of the scale, but not the highest. It’s important to keep perspective. Sodas are rarely consumed in 4 oz. portions; an average serving is between 12 and 16 oz., and people often drink more than one serving, meaning triple-digit calories. The same applies to milk, beer, and juices. However, while liqueurs and whiskies may seem high in calories, most people don’t drink 4 oz. of them at once (and still manage to walk away unassisted). A normal serving size is typically 1 ounce.
Absent any health-related concerns like alcoholism, diabetes, or hypoglycemia, an occasional glass of wine is not likely to harm you. As with most things, moderation is key. Too much of anything, even water, can be detrimental.
Now that you have a better understanding of the calories in white wine, you no longer need to worry. Go out and enjoy yourself!
