It’s wine o’clock somewhere, but having a glass of wine doesn’t have to be considered a pour decision.
Choosing between white wine or red wine ultimately comes down to personal preference — though one is healthier than the other.
According to Debbie Petitpain, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, dry white wine is the healthiest, or rather any wine grown in cooler climates.
When wine is grown in cooler climates, it contains less sugar and alcohol, Petitpain explained to USA Today.
Some wines have natural sugars left over from the fermenting of the grapes, while others, such as dessert wines, have added sugars.
Wine doesn’t have many nutrients other than these calories plus alcohol content, so consuming wine that already has low levels of sugar and alcohol is a good place to start.
The National Institutes of Health’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one per day for women.
That typically means one standard 5-ounce glass of wine with a 12% alcohol by volume (ABV) — and according to Petitpain, dry white wines usually have an ABV of between 9% and 11%.
“You can still have your 5 ounces but you’re not consuming quite as many calories, or you can enjoy a slightly larger pour without overdoing the recommended daily servings,” Petitpain explained to the publication.
One way to make your wine even healthier is to turn it into a wine spritzer, she suggests.
“Adding a club soda or even a sparkling flavored water to dilute your wine somewhat, that can actually give you a larger serving size without adding more alcohol or calories to your drink,” Petitpain said.
Research surrounding health benefits of wine and drinking in general is ongoing and sometimes seems to be never-ending.
A study published earlier this year revealed that light to moderate alcohol consumption can lead to a long-term reduction in the brain’s stress activity, ultimately lowering the risk of heart disease.
The researchers found that one drink per day for women and one to two drinks per day for men is linked with reductions in stress signaling in the brain.
However, cardiologists warn that the dangers associated with alcohol consumption cannot be ignored.
The study also found that any amount of alcohol consumption increases cancer risks, and higher amounts — more than 14 drinks per week — can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, as well as a decline in overall brain activity.
Meanwhile, some people might be drinking their red wine wrong.
While many whites and rosés are primed for pouring right away, varieties of red generally need breathing room in a decanter or your glass. But for those with no time to waste, there is a quicker way — with a milk-frothing wand.
Wine should have a chance to “breathe” after corking and before taking the first sip — allowing time for the brew to mingle with oxygen, which prompts a chemical reaction that removes unfavorable sulfites and ethanol compounds.
