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So, what are some ways we can watch our sugar intake while also enjoying some vino? If you are watching your sugar intake, you should stick with drier wines such as a Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, or Sauvignon Blanc. With a dry wine, the yeast eats all of the naturally occurring sugars in the grapes leaving no residual sugars. A dry wine will also have less calories than a sweeter wine as a result. In contrast, sweeter wines such as Concord, Niagara, some Rieslings, Fredonia, and some fruit wines are back-sweetened with added sugar. This means that once the yeast eats all the natural sugar to create the alcohol, the wine maker sweetens the wine with sugar to create a sweet wine. Sweet wines have more calories due to the addition of sugar. When it comes to sugar consumption, the good news is you don’t have to give up your favorite glass of wine! The serving size of a glass of wine is 5 ounces, so remember: the pour size matters. The Center for Disease Control and the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends drinking in moderation, which means up to one serving of alcohol for women per day and up to two servings for men. If you prefer sweet wines, try adding club soda to a smaller serving of wine, 3-4 ounces rather than the 5 ounces, to create a wine spritzer. Add fresh fruit as well for some natural sweetness and additional nutritional benefits. In addition, if you choose to have a glass of wine, you may want to forgo that piece of cake for balancing your sugar intake. Lastly, don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and try a wine that is typically less sweet than you are used to. There are many wines that are considered off-dry or mid-sweet which will have less sugar than a sweet wine. Limiting your sugar intake may seem like a huge obstacle at first, especially during the holiday season, but taking the time to read the nutrition fact labels or talking to your local wine maker about their wines will go a long way. Education is vital to making better decisions, just like sugar is essential to our bodies and the wine making process. Carrie Gerencher MA, LDN, RDN is Co-owner of Sleepy Cat Urban Winery in Allentown, PA. Nutrition Quarterly · 2021 – Volume 4 12 Featured Articles