Benjamin Franklin opined,"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." This may have a kernel of truth to it, and wine also offers nutritional value. If you drink wine regularly, accounting for its calories, vitamins and minerals will help you stick to your daily diet and consume your recommended nutrient intake.
Red Wine
Red wine is made from red grape varieties, such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, gamay, grenache and Shiraz. A 3.5 oz. serving of red wine has approximately 79 calories, although this varies depending on the type of wine. There are 2.3 g carbs and 0.2 g protein in each serving, but red wine generally contains no fat. A serving of wine contains 4 percent of the iron, 3 percent of the magnesium and 2 percent of the copper you should consume each day.
White Wine
White wine, considered lighter-tasting than red wine, comes from white grape varieties, including gewürztraminer, Kerner, muscadine, pinot blanc, Riesling and chardonnay. White wine contains roughly 82 calories per 3.5 oz. serving. This wine variety has 0.1 g of protein, as well as 2.6 g of carbohydrates. It provides little in the way of vitamin and mineral content, with 3 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin B-6 and magnesium. You also take in 2 percent of the phosphorus and potassium you require daily in a serving of white wine.
Blush Wine
Blush wine, sometimes called rose wine, is made from red grapes. Blush wine's pink color results from the grape skins spending only a short period of time in the wine. A 3.5 oz. glass of blush wine contains 73 calories and only 1 g of carbohydrates. One serving provides 2 percent of the iron you need every day, as well as 1 percent of the daily recommended intake of calcium.
Benefits
Teetotalers may disagree, but drinking wine can help keep you healthy long into old age. Evidence published in the March 2011 issue of the journal “Age and Ageing” notes a correlation between responsible consumption of wine and a decreased incidence of age-related dementia. In addition, drinking wine may protect your heart if consumed moderately, according to a study in the February 2011 edition of the “British Medical Journal.”
Warnings
Overconsumption of or abuse of alcoholic beverages such as wine may lead to health problems, including liver damage and cognitive changes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that alcohol abuse contributes to over 37,000 U.S. deaths per year, so consume wine and other alcohol responsibly and in moderation.
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