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What could be more natural than the grapes that make wine? The grapes might be natural, but unfortunately, grapes aren’t the only ingredient in many wines available today. If you have dedicated yourself to eating clean, there are some things you should know about the wine options you have available. While wine is not a health food, when you want to enjoy a glass, there are some cleaner options to select. 

What’s Not Natural in Wine 

Since you are working hard to keep chemicals and preservatives out of your body when you’re eating clean, you might as well do the same when you have a glass of wine. Here are some of the most common things added to wine that are not compatible with a clean-eating lifestyle: 

Sulfites: While all wines contain some sulfites (SO2) naturally as a byproduct of fermentation, many winemakers add sulfites as a preservative and to prevent oxidation of their wines. The legal limit of sulfites is 350 parts per million (ppm). Look for wines such as those by Dry Farm Wines that have little or no added sulfites (generally below 50  ppm) and publish the amounts on the bottles. 

Mold: During the production process, some wines get contaminated with mold if the production environment isn’t sterile. Unfortunately, the alcohol in the wine can’t kill mold or other bacteria that infiltrate the wine. 

Preservatives: Wine has naturally occurring preservatives including sulfites, alcohol, acidity from tartaric, malic and citric acids from the grapes as well as red wine having tannins from the grape skins, stems and seeds, and the oak barrels. Wine that is “preservative-free” does not include additional preservatives. 

Herbicides/pesticides: Just like with many agricultural products, most vineyards use herbicides/pesticides that can end up in your wine. 

How to Select a Clean Wine

1. Choose wine made from organically grown grapes. 
2. Select wines that do not have added sulfites. 
3. Opt for low-sugar, low-carb wines where the only sugar/carbs in the wine are naturally occurring. 
4. The alcohol range for wines can vary from 7 to 24% alcohol by volume. Unfortunately, in the United States, there is no governing body that enforces the accuracy of these numbers. Choose wines that do not exceed 12.5% alcohol by volume since that’s what occurs naturally. 
5. Look for terms such as natural, organic, dry-farmed, low-sulfite and biodynamic on the bottles. These all indicate less human involvement and are therefore more natural. 

At Taylor Pilates and Fitness, we’re dedicated to helping you move well, feel well and live well. We look forward to helping you find comfort, ease, and strength in your body. Call or text us at 303-472-6743 to schedule your Pilates or functional fitness session.