Merlot is a popular red wine that offers flavors of cherry, plum and currant. The grape is grown in several regions in the world. Merlot grapes, which are low in tannins, are usually blended with other varieties that are higher in tannins, such as Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
Calories
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database lists Merlot wine as containing 122 calories per 5-oz. serving. It does not have significant amounts of protein, fat or fiber. One serving has 4 total carbohydrates, less than 1 g of sugar and 15 g of alcohol.
Considerations
The calories in a serving of Merlot wine depend on several factors. Each wine maker mixes and creates his Merlot differently. The amount of Merlot in a red wine, its proportion to other varieties in the bottle, varies among wineries. These variations and the brand of wine will result in slight caloric discrepancies.
Other Nutrition Information
Red wine is not a significant source of other nutrients including calcium, vitamin c, folate or iron. Red wine does contain resveratrol, which may help increase good cholesterol and help prevent damage from bad cholesterol. MayoClinic.com reports that the heart-healthy benefits of red wine look promising. It does caution that this is not a reason to start drinking alcohol if you do not drink already.
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