Though winemakers ultimately decide how sweet to make any variety of wine, different types of wine generally contain different amounts of sugar, says Azimov. Just like the sugar in the grapes themselves, it gets turned into alcohol during fermentation. In this process, winemakers add cane or beet sugar to the unfermented grapes, Azimov explains.ĭon’t stress, though: This sugar merely initiates the fermenting process. In climates that don't support proper grape maturity, some winemakers-especially in France, which tends to be cooler than, say, California-rely on chaptalization. Ferment for longer, and you'll have a wine with lower sugar content and more alcohol. Stop the fermentation process early and you’ll have wine with higher amounts of sugar and less alcohol. Through fermentation, which occurs when yeast is added to grape juice, that sugar starts to turn into alcohol, Azimov says. When a grape is ripe enough for harvesting, its juice should come in at between 21 and 25 brix (the degree winemakers use to measure the sugar in a liquid solution), explains Brian Azimov, wine expert and founder of Wine With Brian. Here’s the thing about wine: Though you need sugar to make it, that sugar doesn't make up much of the final product. Why does wine have sugar in the first place? Consider this your guide for finding the best low-sugar wines, so you can keep your pinot habit intact. Not ideal for anyone, let alone low-carb or keto eaters.īut there are in fact many wines on the market today that have low to no sugar, making that second glass (or even third) much less worrisome. “If you drink more than, your insulin output can increase, bringing your blood sugar levels down and causing hypoglycemia, which may cause you to feel lightheaded,' says Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, author of Eating in Color.

It's only when you down a lot of vino that sugar becomes an issue.

Different varieties pack different amounts of sugar, so even keto dieters can enjoy small amounts and be in the clear, carb-wise. If anything, it just means practicing moderation, or swapping your go-to glass for one that better aligns with your goals. Well, here's the good news and a spoiler alert for what's ahead: Meeting your health goals doesn't mean nixing wine from your diet completely. But if you're following a keto or low-carb diet, you may be curious how your fave glass of red fits into your plans.Īfter all, many wines do contain a fair amount of sugar (more on that later!), and sugars are carbs. Listen, there's nothing wrong with grabbing a chilled glass of wine after a long day of endless work calls and meetings, errands, and household chores.

Carbs in rose wine