Shea Simmons
You likely won’t be surprised to learn that wine sales skyrocketed in 2020. What with the global pandemic and all, it was a tough year, to say the least. If you feel like you overindulged a bit and are looking for a healthier way to enjoy your wine, though, you have some options.
There are some general rules you can follow when it comes to healthier wine consumption. For men, two glasses of about five ounces each per day are recommended. For ladies, unfortunately, one glass per day is the cap.
Drinking wine in moderation has been shown to reduce heart-related risks as well as improving cognitive function as you age. If you prefer white wine, however, and want to cut back or switch it out for something healthier, one of the best options is a wine spritzer.
According to Frances Largeman-Roth, a registered dietitian nutritionist, just adding some sparkling water makes your wine healthier.
“You can add sparkling water to wine, which is a fun way to stretch your serving,” Largeman-Roth told Real Simple. “Plus, I think it’s extra refreshing in the summertime. And you can also use it to reduce the calories in a drink that calls for prosecco.”
“For example, a classic Aperol Spritz calls for equal parts Aperol and prosecco, plus a spritz of soda water, but I skip the prosecco and just combine a shot of Aperol with sparkling water. It’s delicious, and I like that the bitterness of the Aperol comes out a bit more.”
While you might have a favorite white wine, there’s no reason you can’t experiment with fun sparkling water flavors. Brands like Bubly and La Croix have options like passion and grapefruit, and peach, any of which will add a fruity twist to your wine.
While you might be thinking a spritzer is just watered-down wine, that definitely doesn’t have to be the case given the flavor options available.
Want to learn more about other healthier wine options? You can check them all out over at Real Simple.
