Whether you want to slim down, you’re planning a total body transformation or you’re just trying to avoid gaining a few extra pounds, there are a lot of conflicting notions about the relationship between wine and weight. The overabundance of research, articles and opinions can make it tough to decide if you need to change your drinking habits.
And contemplating the calories in a glass of wine is not just about looking good. More than one-third of American adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raising their risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.
For years, Wine Spectator has looked into the science behind wine and weight to better understand how to maintain a healthy lifestyle without giving up your favorite beverage.
Wine by the Numbers: Counting Calories, Carbs and More
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), an average 5-ounce glass of dry table wine between 11 and 14 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) will contain 120 to 130 calories. But since only a handful of producers provide nutritional information on their labels, it’s hard to know exactly how many calories you’re actually consuming with each sip, and the final tally can vary—by a lot.