There's nothing quite like toasting a special occasion (or no occasion at all) with a glass of wine, but have you ever wondered how many calories are in your favorite vintage? The average calorie count for a standard 5-ounce serving of wine can vary based on whether you choose white or red, and even from brand to brand. If you're imbibing for the health benefits, you should stick to a glass or two at a time, but it's still important to see how that fits in with your overall health goals. To help you sort it out, POPSUGAR looked up the calorie counts in the eight most popular varieties of wine.
Calorie counts vary from brand to brand, but a glass of Rosé will set you back about 126 calories. (Psst . . . you can also get it in a can for outdoor parties.)
A glass of Chardonnay has around 123 calories. Red wine often steals the spotlight, but white wine is lower in calories, and a study from the University of Buffalo found that drinking white wine was associated with better lung function.
Did you know many people pick up a green bell pepper flavor when they drink Cabernet Sauvignon? This is due to the high levels of pyrazines in the grapes when they're harvested. At only 122 calories per glass, it's almost as good as actually eating your vegetables.
Red wines do tend to have slightly higher calorie counts than white, but they also contain resveratrol, a polyphenol that's beneficial to the heart. A glass of Pinot Noir comes in at about 121 calories.
A glass of Merlot contains about 122 calories, and it may even help you live longer.
A glass of Riesling has around 118 calories, making it one of the lightest wines on this list.
Pinot Grigio is known for its light, fruity flavor. At only 122 calories, a cool glass on a warm Summer night sounds pretty good.
Crisp, dry, and refreshing, Sauvignon Blanc is a classic. Like other white wines, it has fewer calories than most red wines: only 119 calories per glass.