How, to whom and how much you can drink white wine, so that it is really a pleasure and “to your health!”

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The composition and calorie content of white wine
White wine is obtained by fermenting grape berries, but without the skin. Therefore, it has a golden or straw color. White wines are dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet, and they are made from one or more grape varieties (by blending). Varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sémillon, Viognier and Pinot Blanc are used to make dry white wines with an obvious sourness. Wines such as Gewürztraminer, Moscato, Muscat, Sauternes and some Rieslings are usually sweeter, with fruity notes.
The calorie content of 1 glass of white table wine is 120 kcal, which is given to wine by alcohol.
A glass (and this is approximately 150 g) contains:
- 3.8 g carbohydrates;
- 1.4 g sugars;
- 0.1 g protein;
- 7.4 mg sodium;
- 0 fat;
- 0 fiber.
And with all this, in a glass of wine about 15 g of alcohol. But cups can also be different — keep in mind that each additional gram adds about 25 calories. In addition, the calorie content and sugar content can vary depending on the type of wine: the least of them are in Sauvignon, in Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio a little more.
More calories in white semi-sweet and sweet wines — up to 150 kcal, as well as up to 15 g of carbohydrates, and this is mainly sugar.
Health benefits of natural white wine
Connoisseurs say that white wine is the most difficult to fake, so the likelihood of buying fake Chardonnay or Traminer in the store is minimal. And if we talk about the benefits of white wine, then, of course, we mean a real natural product. And talking about the benefits is quite real, and even nutritionists include dry white in a balanced and healthy diet plan — thanks to its enzymes, it helps to digest food faster and improves digestion. This is where the common explanation for why the French, whose cuisine actually contains a lot of fatty meat dishes, manages to stay slim: they simply skip a glass or two of white grape wine at lunch and dinner.
White wine contains small amounts of trace elements, in particular magnesium, and vitamins, for example, B6. But it is hardly worth seriously considering a glass of white wine a day as a source of vitamins and minerals to maintain health. Namely, a glass a day, and no more, is allowed to drink by health experts for women, and a maximum of two glasses a day for men.
In fact, the almost complete absence of resveratrol in white wine (this antioxidant is found in the peel), which has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, seriously reduces its benefits. But doctors admit that in small doses, white wine helps to cope with stress, has a beneficial effect on the condition of the lung tissue, slightly lowers the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, and also reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But only in small doses!

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Who can not white wine and why
Wine, like other alcoholic beverages, cannot by definition be drunk by humans:
- with diagnosed diseases of the heart and blood vessels, stomach and liver, diabetes, mental disorders — alcohol complicates the course of the disease and interferes with the work of drugs;
- taking certain drugs, in particular antibiotics, for flu and colds, sleeping pills and antidepressants, for blood pressure, analgesics and antipsychotics — alcohol can change the effect of drugs, cause intoxication and alcohol poisoning;
- those who have been vaccinated, including against covid — excessive doses of alcohol adversely affect immunity and can distort the effect of the vaccine;
- children and adolescents — it can affect the development of the brain, liver, bones and hormonal functions;
- planning to drive — alcohol disperses the concentration on the road, which can cause an accident;
- allergy sufferers — wine contains allergens such as yeast, mold, ethanol, acetaldehyde and sulfites, which can provoke symptoms of a runny nose and suffocation.
Is white wine allowed during pregnancy?
Doctors still cannot decide on a safe dose of alcohol for expectant mothers. So the best option is not to drink at all. When a mother drinks at least a couple of sips of wine, alcohol passes through the placenta into the blood of a child, for whom this is a real stress. As a result, a miscarriage may occur, the baby may be born premature and weak. If the expectant mother often looks at the glass, a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder may be born, and these will be problems with development, health, speech, and communication in the future. Is it worth the risk?
Can breastfeeding mothers drink white wine?
Doctors say that if you really want to, then you can, but not more than the standard dose and 2, and preferably 3 hours before feeding. More alcohol can interfere with the flow of breast milk, as well as disturb the baby’s sleep and early development.
What dishes to serve with white wine
Dry white wine is considered to be the beginning of any meal: it is served as an aperitif, even regardless of the entire menu. But there are a great many varieties and types of white wine, and in order for each of them to correctly reveal its bouquet and aroma, choose the right snacks. It is important that food and drink do not “compete”: bright and complex wines are suitable for simple dishes, and simple and “understandable” wines for fine dishes. Here are 10 classic white wine pairings:
- Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chenin Blanc with fried pork;
- Chardonnay for seafood;
- Caviar under champagne brut (very dry white sparkling wine);
- Oysters under Chablis;
- Sauvignon Blanc under Caesar salad;
- Riesling for chicken meat;
- Sauternes for liver dishes;
- Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc with tomatoes and cheese, herb pie or sushi;
- Fish dishes and meat shank with Pinot Gris;
- Apple pie with cinnamon Gewürstraminer.
Recipes with white wine
The dish will acquire a unique taste if you add a little white wine to it during cooking. It will play its culinary role in white meat dishes, fish, mushrooms and even desserts. Are you ready to give up a glass of wine in the evening? Then take it to the kitchen!
Rabbit in white wine
Chardonnay is best served with rabbit stewed in wine, and buckwheat as a side dish.
You will need:
- 1 rabbit carcass;
- 1 l white semi-sweet wine;
- 2 onions;
150 g bacon; - 1 Art. l. Adjikas;
- 1 bunch of parsley;
- 250 g sour cream;
- Provence herbs to taste.
Cooking:
Soak the rabbit overnight in white wine. In the morning, drain half of the wine and add chopped onion and bacon, adjika to the rabbit. Simmer for an hour on a slow fire. Then add spices and simmer for another hour. At the end we put chopped parsley and sour cream.
Fish soup with white wine
Try this soup in combination with white dry or semi-dry sparkling wine.
You will need:
- 0.5 kg fillet of cod;
- 21 tomatoes;
- 500 ml fish broth;
- 1 sprig of basil;
- 3 Art. l. olive oil;
- 1 clove of garlic;
- 300 ml of white wine;
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Cooking:
Grind tomatoes with a blender. Finely chop the garlic and fry it in a deep frying pan in hot oil. Quickly add the fish pieces to the pan. Pour white wine into a saucepan and simmer a little. Without removing from heat, beat the fish with a blender. Pour the fish broth and tomato puree into the pan. Salt and pepper the soup, bring it to a boil, remove from heat. When serving, decorate the fish soup with basil sprigs.
Mushrooms in white wine
It is better to serve red wine with this dish, and potatoes as a side dish.
You will need:
- 0.5 kg of champignons;
- 3 st. l. Teddy bear;
- 1 st. white wine;
- 3 art. l. soy sauce;
- 10 g butter;
- 3 sprigs of parsley.
Cooking:
Coarsely chop prepared mushrooms. We prepare the marinade by mixing honey, 1 tablespoon of wine and soy sauce, and dip the mushrooms into it for 15 to 30 minutes, no longer. Fry the mushrooms in hot oil in a frying pan. We fry the mushrooms over high heat for a maximum of 5 minutes, until they let the juice go, immediately set aside and cover with a lid. Let it stay like this for 20 minutes.

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Creamy white wine sauce
This bright sauce perfectly emphasizes the taste of fish dishes: baked salmon, boiled pike perch or fried carp.
You will need:
- 75 ml of white wine;
- 150 ml cream;
- 1 onion;
- 100 ml of fish broth;
- 20 ml of olive oil;
- 50 g butter;
- 2.5 g ginger;
- salt and lemon juice to taste.
Cooking:
Saute chopped onion and ginger in olive oil. Pour white wine into the pan and boil for 5 minutes. Add pepper, butter and lemon juice until you get the desired taste. Beat the sauce with a blender until a thick fluffy mass is obtained.
Pears in white wine
This delicacy can be served with dessert wine.
You will need:
- 4 pears;
- 750 ml of white wine;
- 1 st. Sahara.
For cream:
- 1 st. fat cream;
- 1 Art. l. Sahara;
- 1 h. l. cardamom
Cooking:
Peel the pears and pour over the wine so that they are completely immersed in it. Cook them over very low heat until they are soft. Cool and remove, covering the pan with a lid, in the refrigerator for 4–5 days. We take out and cook again until the liquid turns into a thick syrup. Remove from fire and cool. Serve with cream: beat cream, sugar and cardamom with a mixer. Drizzle with white wine before serving.