10 Lower-Calorie Wines You'll Love

Livestrong.com may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Newer wine brands make drinking vino a bit more friendly to your waistline.
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

A greasy cheese pizza and a bottle of wine may seem like the perfect send-off to a hectic workweek. But that Friday-friendly combo can sometimes do more harm than good if it becomes a habit: Alcoholic drinks (like wine) not only contain calories and sugar, but they can also lead us astray from our weight loss aspirations, says Hailey Gorski, RD.

Advertisement

"A 5-ounce pour of Pinot Grigio with an ABV of 12.5 percent has 120 calories and 3 grams of carbs," Gorski says.

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

"Alcohol lowers inhibitions, which means that we are more likely to make poor food choices," Gorski says. "If we select wine with low alcohol by volume (ABV), we are more likely to honor our health goals and make a more sensible decision at the dinner table."

To help keep your carb and calorie intake under control, Gorski advises scanning your wine bottle and selecting blends that contain an ABV of 12.5 percent or below. "Wines that contain too much ABV, for example, tend to be higher in carbs and sugar," she says.

But you don't have to look high and low for better sips, as there are many low-calorie wine brands available at reasonable price points. To help bring these to your kitchen table, Gorski and other dietitians weigh in on low-calorie wines for a lighter buzz below.

Advertisement

Related Reading

1. Cupcake LightHearted Rosé

If you're not into rose, you can opt for Cupcake's red and white wines.
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative
  • 80 calories per one 5-ounce glass

Advertisement

If you're looking for a light and refreshing rosé to enjoy with a good book on a Saturday night, Lisa DeFazio, RD, recommends filling a glass of Cupcake LightHearted rosé, as it contains only 80 calories and 8 percent ABV per one 5-ounce glass.

"The grapes used in this wine are harvested early in the season in order to minimize the amount of sugar that is naturally found in grapes," DeFazio explains. "This helps create a lower-sugar, lower-alcohol product after blending."

Advertisement

Advertisement

Buy it:Drizly.com; ‌Price:‌ $10.52 for one bottle

2. Yellowtail Pure Bright Pinot Grigio

Yellowtail's affordable low-calorie wine tastes just as good as the traditional lines.
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative
  • 80 calories per one 5-ounce glass

Advertisement

This well-known Australian wine brand has developed a light wine that brings a fruity and refreshing addition to any happy hour or meal, says board-certified dietitian Staci Gulbin, RD.

Great taste aside, Gulbin explains that this wine is the perfect weekend pick-me-up, as it doesn't go hard on the calories and ABV levels. "This chardonnay has 80 calories per one 5-ounce serving (Yellow Tail's traditional pinto grigio has 107 calories per serving), and clocks in at just 8.5 percent ABV," she adds.

Advertisement

Buy it:Drizly.com; ‌Price:‌ $6.69 for one bottle

3. SkinnyGirl Moscato Wine

SkinnyGirl is inexpensive and generally available, making it an accessible choice for the calorie-conscious wine drinker.
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative
  • 100 calories per one 5-ounce glass

Advertisement

Moscato may pair well with tasty homemade desserts after a scrumptious meal, but sweeter wines like these aren't the most nutritious.

But that doesn't mean you have to write off Moscato altogether, as Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, explains that SkinnyGirl's take on this popular wine keeps ABV levels and calories under control.

Advertisement

"Each one of SkinnyGirl's wines all come in around 100 calories per one 5-ounce serving with just 9 percent ABV," Palinski-Wade says.

Buy it:Drizly.com; ‌Price:‌ $10.99 for one bottle

4. Cense Wines Sauvignon Blanc

Cense wines (cabernet, sparkling, rosé) keep it reasonable in calories and ABV.
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative
  • 85 calories per one 5-ounce glass

"While most other white wines contain about 120 calories, Cense offers blends that are lower in calories (85 calories per 5-ounce glass) and alcohol by volume (9.5 percent)," Jacyln London, RD, says.

"And if you are a WW (formerly Weight Watchers) member, this means obtaining three SmartPoints per glass, instead of the usual four."

Buy it:Censewines.com; ‌Price:‌ $18 per bottle

5. Bev Sauvignon Blanc

Bev white wine cans pair nicely with fish tacos and provide a nice burst of citrusy flavor.
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative
  • 160 calories per one 8.4-ounce can

Delicious taste aside, each white wine can from Bev ditches the high ABV and calories associated with some white wines, says Emily Danckers, RD.

"Bev's Sauvignon Blanc contains 11 percent ABV and about 160 calories per can," Danckers says. While that may seem high, one can contain more wine than your average 5-ounce glass — you'll get 8.4 ounces or about 1.5 glasses of wine in a can of Bev.

Advertisement

Buy it:Drinkbev.com; ‌Price:‌ $49 for a pack of 8 cans

6. Barefoot Pinot Grigio

A glass of this pinot contains 12.5 percent ABV and 100 calories per 5-ounce serving.
  • 100 calories per one 5-ounce glass

"White wines have a lower alcohol content, which makes them a lot more calorie-friendly than other alcoholic beverages — including low-cal beer," says Jennifer Schlette, RD.

"It's better to have a glass of Barefoot Pinot Grigio than it is to opt for a low-cal beer like Bud Light Platinum."

Buy It:Drizly.com; ‌Price‌: $7.69 for one bottle

7. Franzia White Zinfandel Pink Wine

This wine's light and fruity taste make it a great addition to any party — birthdays, bridal showers and more, Schlette says.
  • 105 calories per one 5-ounce glass

In the mood for a glass of some fruity goodness, but not the high-calorie overload? This is the perfect wine choice when you want to indulge in a vino that won't break the calorie bank — it has 9 percent ABV and 105 calories per one 5-ounce serving.

Buy It:Drizly.com; ‌Price‌: $19.49 for one box

8. FitVine Chenin Blanc White Wine

This white wine has hints of honeydew melon and citrus.
  • 104 calories per one 5-ounce glass

Advertisement

"Chenin Blanc is a semi-sweet wine that has a subtle fruitiness and a little bit of spice," says Schlette. "It clocks in at 104 calories, 3.5 grams of carbs and a 12 percent ABV per one 5-ounce serving, making it perfect for any get-together on your calendar."

Buy It:FitVine.com; ‌Price‌: $17.99 per bottle

9. Mind & Body Pinot Grigio

  • 90 calories per one 5-ounce glass

Mind & Body is yet another alcohol brand well known for its low-calorie yet tasty wine, says Michelle Hawksworth, RD. While the brand has low-cal rosé and cabernet sauvignon available, its pinot grigio —which is bursting with tropical fruit flavors and floral notes — is equally delightful.

"Their Pinot Grigio is light and refreshing, filled with fruity flavors and aromas," Hawksworth tells LIVESTRONG.com. "It's also low in sugar and only contains 90 calories per 5-ounce serving."

Buy it‌: Onestopwineshop.com; ‌Price‌: $13 for one bottle

10. Avaline White Blend

  • 99 calories per one 5-ounce serving

This is another white wine that's crisp, light and easy to drink.

"The even better news is that it's gluten-free and vegan-friendly. It's also made with fresh and organic grapes, and contains 99 calories per one 5-ounce serving,"Hawksworth says.

Buy it:Drizly.com;‌ Price: ‌$20.99 for one bottle