If you’re a wine lover and want to shed a few pounds, you might be considering the keto diet. Plenty of studies rave that it’s effective, but can you still enjoy wine?
The keto diet focuses on reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing healthy fats. As most wines don’t have many carbohydrates, there are plenty of options. That doesn’t mean any zero-carb wine is acceptable. Here, we’ll dive into how to identify a keto-friendly wine and some of the best options.
What Makes a Keto-Friendly Wine?
Ideally, you should look for two key factors when choosing a wine:
1. Low sugar
2. Low alcohol
Residual sugar is essentially carbs, so avoid sweet dessert wines, like port or late harvest wines. If you have a choice, opt for any dry wine as they have the least amount of sugar.
The second half of finding a keto-friendly wine is choosing one with low alcohol concentration. While alcohol doesn’t necessarily interrupt ketosis, it causes the body to temporarily pause metabolizing fat to metabolize alcohol. Once the alcohol is broken down into acetate, your body will use that for energy. Thus, it slows the weight loss process.
Cheaper wines tend to have more residual sugar to improve the taste, so use this as an excuse to splurge on a bottle of fine wine. It’s also best to stick to just one glass per night, so collecting high quality wine will help keep you accountable for your consumption habits.
What are the best wines for the keto diet?
The 5 Best Keto Wines
Sauvignon Blanc
Perhaps the best wine you can choose is the Sauvignon Blanc. It has the least carbs (on average) and usually has an alcohol concentration of between 12.5 and 14 percent. Choosing a more expensive, small-batch Sauvignon Blanc will probably give you the lowest alcohol concentration and residual sugar.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir tends to have low sugar content with approximately 3.4 grams of carbs. Opt for a Burgundy or virtually any old world Pinot Noir as they tend to be lower in carbs. It also has plenty of other health benefits as Pinot Noir contains one of the highest resveratrol levels.
Chardonnay
If you prefer white wine, Chardonnay is an excellent choice. It has an average of just 3.2 grams of carbs and is one of the driest white wines. Make sure you are using the right type of wine glass for the best effect!
Dry Riesling
For German wine lovers, a dry Riesling is perfect for the keto diet. The wine will have a low residual sugar content (and thus few carbs), and they also tend to have an alcohol concentration of around 12.5 percent.
Merlot
To finish the list, classic Merlot is generally a safe choice. This red wine tends to have around 2.5 grams of carbs, although it is usually higher in alcohol, which is why it’s lower on the list. Be conscious of your serving size and try to choose lower alcohol versions.
Even if you want to lose weight and stick to keto, you can still indulge in the occasional sip of wine. Just remember to drink small quantities, so reach for that beautifully aged, expensive bottle in your cellar or buy a particularly high-end wine. Talk to other wine lovers on the journey, and don’t give up! You can do this!
About the Author: Jon Notarius is the Vice President of Premier Gourmet Corp. which operates the store’s online business via WineDeals.com.