10 Healthiest Wine Styles To Buy & Why (Best Bottles, Flavors)

Wine usually contains empty calories, and excessive drinking may not be good for you. 

But, here’s good news! 

Some wine styles (especially certain red wines) contain low sugar, low alcohol, and healthy antioxidants and come with great health benefits as well. 

So, what are the healthiest wine options for you?

In this article, we'll discover the factors that make a wine healthy, the top 10 healthiest wine styles, and their benefits. We’ll also explore the best bottles to buy and their tasting notes.

What Makes A Wine Healthy?

Here are the three key factors to look out for to make sure a wine is “healthy”:

1. Low Sugar

High sugar intake is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and chronic inflammation. Wines with high sugar content have more calories too.

Since all wines contain at least some sugar, the healthiest options are those with low sweetness levels. 

Avoid wines with added sugar, fortified wines (like Port or Madeira), dessert wines, and late harvest wines. Also, skip wines with ‘dolce,’ ‘demi-sec,’ or ‘semi-sec’ on their labels since they have more residual sugar.

Instead, go for dry wine styles like Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc, which contain low calories and low residual sugar content (0 to 9 grams/liter.)  

2. Low Alcohol Content

The alcohol by volume (ABV) in wine ranges from 5 to 16 percent, and fortified wine has 15 to 25 percent of alcohol. Increased alcohol levels also mean more calories in the wine.

High alcohol consumption can cause weight gain, heart problems, liver and pancreatic damage, and cancer. 

According to the American Heart Association, women should have no more than one alcoholic beverage per day, and men should have no more than two drinks per day. 

3. High Antioxidant Content

Resveratrol is an antioxidant (a type of polyphenol) in wine that neutralizes harmful oxidizing agents in the body. Red grape skin contains resveratrol, and red wines fermented with their skins contain more resveratrol than white wines.

Besides resveratrol, red wine also contains polyphenol compounds like procyanidins that prevent cardiovascular disease. 

10 Healthiest Wine Styles and Top Bottles to Buy in 2023

The healthiest wines to try in 2023 are:

1. Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is the healthiest red wine with a high resveratrol level. The Pinot Noir grape produces a full-bodied, dry red wine with low sugar, lower calories, and medium alcohol content.

The increased resveratrol level in Pinot Noir:

• Regulates bad cholesterol and blood pressure
• Improves insulin sensitivity
• Prevents damage to blood vessels
• Enhances brain health and combats degenerative neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia

Drinking Pinot Noir also boosts omega-3 fatty acids in the body that prevent heart disease and balance microbiomes in your gut. 

This alcoholic beverage has a pleasant red fruit palate with baking spice and vanilla aromas.

The 2018 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny Grand Cru 'Cuvee Vieilles Vignes' ($921) is a healthy Pinot Noir and the best red wine to try.

2. Malbec

Malbec grapes are thick-skinned and packed with antioxidants like resveratrol and quercetin. Malbec wine contains twice the antioxidants of Cabernet Sauvignon and four times that of Merlot. 

The antioxidants in Malbec: 

• Enhance heart health and immunity
• Prevent free radical-based cellular damage and narrowing of blood vessels
• Promote anti-inflammation that controls instances of chronic diseases 
• Promote weight loss

The red wine presents delicious black fruit and plum notes with luxurious chocolate, leather, and sweet tobacco nuances.

Stock a bottle of the 2017 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard 'Mundus Bacillus Terrae' Malbec ($315) if you’re a health-conscious wine drinker.

3. Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the world’s most widely planted red wine grape variety. Its wines have addictive licorice, cassis, and blackcurrant aromas in a complex dark fruit and spice palate. 

The health benefits of Cabernet Sauvignon include:

• It boosts good HDL cholesterol levels and reduces bad cholesterol in the body. 
• The flavonoid composition of Cabernet Sauvignon promotes protein synthesis that improves cell health. 
• This full-bodied red wine contains proanthocyanidins - a class of antioxidants that mitigate the body’s oxidative stress.
• The plant compounds like catechin and epicatechin in Cabernet Sauvignon help fight off infections like the flu. 
• The wine improves brain function by reducing amyloid-beta peptide levels. 
• While most red wines may stain your teeth, a compound in Cabernet Sauvignon prevents tooth enamel damage.

Relish the 2015 Abreu Vineyard Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon ($666) for a rich, healthy drinking experience.

4. Merlot

Merlot is the second most famous red wine after Cabernet Sauvignon. It contains antioxidants like resveratrol and procyanidin that regulate cholesterol and boost heart health.

The dry red wine improves your large intestine’s bacterial lining and balances the colon’s good and bad bacteria.

Besides these benefits, the melatonin in this alcoholic beverage relaxes the mind and can help you fall asleep.

Merlot boasts a dynamic flavor profile of black cherry, cocoa, plum, and cedar.

The 2014 Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Roberta's Reserve ($450) is one of the healthiest red wine styles.

5. Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah is a bold, beautiful red with some bitterness due to its high level of tannins. The polyphenols in the wine contain antioxidants like resveratrol.

These heart-friendly antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. 

The dry wine exudes herb and spice aromas with flavorful dark fruit and chocolate notes.

Give the 2017 Turley Wine Cellars Hayne Vineyard Petite Sirah ($103) a tryif you prefer a savory, healthy wine.

6. Barbera 

Barbera is an affordable Italian red wine with a high level of resveratrol that helps prevent cardiovascular disease.

The light-bodied Barbera features intense sour cherry and strawberry notes with high acidity and low tannins.

The 2010 Roberto Voerzio Riserva Pozzo dell'Annunziata Barbera d'Alba ($130) is one of the best wine options if you’re a health-conscious wine drinker.

7. Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the world’s most popular white wine. While white wines aren’t as healthy as reds, Chardonnay can help improve your cholesterol levels. 

It also enhances bone density, prevents blood clotting, and reduces the risk of stroke.

The medium to full-bodied wine has moderate acidity with lemon, papaya, and pineapple flavors. 

The 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut ($160) is an excellent healthy Chardonnay wine.

8. Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is produced by straining the grape skin, which reduces resveratrol and flavonoid levels in the wine. But it is healthier compared to most other whites. 

The caffeic acid and tyrosol in Pinot Grigio have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidizing properties. 

Green apple, lime, and honeysuckle are the wine’s dominant tasting notes. 

You can enjoy a healthy white wine with the 2007 Gravner Anfora Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT ($145.)

9. Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc, also called the ‘grassy wine,’ is America’s second-favorite white wine. It is a dry, acidic white with a crisp palate.  

The unique antioxidants in this alcoholic drink help prevent cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's disease.

Its primary flavors are grapefruit, white peach, and passion fruit with savory hints of nutmeg and clove.

You can enjoy the benefits of a dry white with the 2013 Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Neore ($438.) 

10. Rose

Rose wines are healthier than most white wines but don’t offer the benefits of antioxidant-rich reds. These wines contain substantial resveratrol and polyphenols (lower than red wine.)

Besides being a low-calorie drink, Rose has antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress on the body. It is also anti-inflammatory, promotes weight loss, and regulates cholesterol levels.

Crisp and refreshing Rose wines are known for their citrus, melon, and red fruit flavors. 

Try the 2016 Domaine l'Anglore 'Les Salines' Rose ($115) if you’re looking for a healthy pink wine.

Pick A Healthy Wine for A Wholesome Drinking Experience!

A low sugar, low alcohol wine loaded with antioxidants can be a delightful addition to your healthy diet. Choose one of the wines we’ve listed above for a heart-healthy drinking experience!

But if you wish to invest in some of the best red wine bottles for the long term, visit the Vinovest website. It is the best AI-based platform to buy, store, and sellauthentic fine wines from around the world.