• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggies Don't Bite
menu icon
go to homepage
  • St. Patrick's
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • St. Patrick's
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Resources
    • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home ▸ Vegan Guides and Information

    All the Info on Healthy Wine Brands

    Last modified: January 28, 2022. Originally posted: November 7, 2020 By Sophia DeSantis

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Overlay text on wine with a photo of red wine being poured
    Wine bottles sitting on a wooden table
    Overlay text on a collage of red and white wine being poured

    Is healthy wine a thing? Read to learn more about types, brands and benefits on the healthiest wines out there!

    A bottle pouring red wine into a glass
    Click here to subscribe

    While you don't usually associate health with alcohol, there are differences when it comes to the kinds of wine you drink. How wine is made, the brands you buy and it's ingredients all play a roll.

    It sounds weird to call wine healthy, it's more about making healthiER choices. If you're going to indulge, it's nice to feel good about what you're putting in your body, not to mention feel good in the morning!

    What To Look For In Healthy Wines

    I've broken down different ways wines can be healthier so you can make an informed decision the next time you imbibe.

    No added sugar

    While consuming natural sugar from whole foods like fruits, veggies and grains is okay for your body, consuming too much added sugar can contribute to chronic health issues like as diabetes, obesity and heart health. One of the ways wines can be healthier is when they don't contain added sugar.

    Grapes naturally contain sugar, and once they're fermented some of that remains as residual sugar. As you may be able to guess, sweeter wines have more residual sugar, whereas dryer wines have less. Sometimes sugar is added to wine if the grapes aren't ripe enough, or to increase the alcohol content.

    If you want a lower sugar wine, look for a drier varietal. For reds this would be Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. Dry white wines include Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. If sparkling wine tickles your fancy reach for Brut!

    Round Pond Estate Wines are amazing and one of my favorites. They have a great selection of wine, all with no added sugars!

    Two wine glasses on a table with white wine in them

    Organic

    Organic wines consist of grapes grown without chemicals like synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. In addition, all the other ingredients (which aren't always listed on the label) are organic as well. Also, organic wines do not have any added sulfites. 

    Some wine labels boast that they are made with organically grown grapes, but that only refers to the wine! There can still be icky things in those wines, as well as sulfites. Read the label carefully and make sure the wine is completely organic.

    Frey Vineyards is a great place to look for your next organic wine!

    Another great brand is Le Grand Verre. The grapes are grown under organic and sustainable farming techniques, and the majority of their wines use organic grapes. The cool thing about them, is that they sell 6.3 ounce single serve bottles!

    A photo of a vinyard at sunset

    No additives

    Additives are sometimes added to wine, whether it be for stabilization, acid control, clarification, fermentation, or even increasing the alcohol content. While some of these additives are completely harmless and legal, fabulous wine can be made without them, and in my opinion, the more natural the better.

    You can find a selection of wines without additives from Scout and Cellar.

    Four glasses on a table filled with rose wine

    Dry Farming

    In short, dry farmed wines are made from grapes grown on vineyards without irrigation. Instead, they rely on rainfall for water which is more environmentally sustainable. This natural approach leads to a deeper flavored grape, as well as lower sugar.

    More often than not, dry farmed wines are also organic and don't contain any additives which essentially checks every box on our healthy wine list!

    Wine bottles sitting on a wooden table

    A great source of these wines is Dry Farm Wines. (Right now, you can get an extra bottle of their wine for just a penny with your first order!) Their selection is lab tested to ensure they're lower sugar and low in sulfites.

    Their grapes are grown organically from older vines, fermented with 100% wild, native yeast, and handcrafted into small batches resulting in utterly delicious low carb wines free of additives!

    Hand holding an information card on dry farmed wines

    Common Questions

    Is Wine Vegan?

    Surprisingly enough, not all wine is vegan! What?! You thought it was just grapes? Yeah me too, but sometimes certain additives used or processes wines go through, such as fining, use animal based products. More often than not these include milk protein, egg whites, gelatin, and fish bladder protein. These are filtered out, but still used, making the wine not truly vegan.

    A great source for strictly vegan wine is Mendocino Wine Company.

    What is the healthiest wine to drink?

    It depends on your definition of healthy. I've listed different ways wine can be healthy above, find what matters most to you and go after it! Fortunately, Dry Farm Wines cover all the bases of what makes wine healthy so you don't have to pick and choose!

    Which wine has the least amount of sugar?

    Dry varietals contain the least amount of sugar.

    What is the healthiest red wine?

    Red wines that contain the least amount of sugar are Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

    What is the healthiest white wine?

    White wines with the lowest sugar include Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

    Is there such a thing as sugar free wine?

    Sadly, there is not. Without sugar, we could not have wine! The important thing is to choose wines that have no ADDED sugars, only naturally occurring sugars.

    Vegan Recipes with Wine

    Once you've found your perfect wine, try making any of these plant based recipes:

    • Wine slushies
    • Homemade wine popsicles
    • Frosé 
    • Vegan Moussaka
    • Pinto Beans
    • Mushroom Bourguignon
    Click here to subscribe
    A photo of a signature saying Sophia with a blueberry as the letter O
    « Healthy Vegan Carrot Soup
    I Can Run on Fumes So Why Is Sleep So Important? »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Questions or comments? Let me know below! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Fleur

      November 16, 2020 at 1:19 pm

      How do i know a wine is dry farm wine?

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        November 17, 2020 at 11:23 am

        Hi Fleur! The link I have in the post leads you the a website with dry farmed wines. Most wines you find at the store are not dry farmed. The website has a contact area where you can get in touch and ask all the specific questions you have!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Sophia and I love food. As a food photographer, plant-based recipe creator, and client-centered health coach, I focus on helping people feel empowered instead of overwhelmed when it comes to overall health and wellness. Let me help you eat more plants!

    More about me →

    Click here to subscribe

    Vegan St. Patrick's Day

    • Healthy Vegan Cottage Pie Recipe
    • Vegan Colcannon Potatoes
    • Healthy Vegan Shamrock Shake
    • Vegan Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

    Trending Recipes

    • World's Best Greek Vegan Spanakopita
    • The Best Creamy Vegan Oatmeal Recipe
    • Easy Vegan Meal Plan For a Week
    • How to Make a Thick Vegan Smoothie Bowl
    Cookbook cover with a burrito, burger and fries on a white table with a black background

    Amazon | Barnes & Noble

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Logos of websites that listed places this site has been featured

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    Click here to subscribe

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press

    Copyright © 2013-2023 Veggies Don't Bite