Vinos, Listen Up—Here’s How to Pick the Healthiest Wines (Plus, a Few of Our Favorites)

In the wellness community, we often go all-or-nothing on alcohol, claiming it’s either completely harmless (translation: we need our five o’clock glass of rosé) or the devil on your shoulder negating all your other health attempts. The reality is somewhere in the middle. Alcohol can also make social events, relaxation, and creativity easier—but you also feel undoubtedly better waking up without a hangover and any “oh gosh, why did I say that?” regrets.

Like with most vices, moderation is key, and picking high-quality drinks can go a long way in ensuring any chosen alcohol is the kindest possible to your body, mind, and morning-after ego. 

Various wines champion various promises. Should you opt for the sugar-free option in the hopes of reducing any headaches and maintaining your chosen nutritional goals? Or is natural wine—free of additives, produced via simple and low-intervention methods —the way to go? Do organic grapes matter, or are most grapes organic? 

In consultation with sommeliers, we rounded up five of our favorite wellness-friendly wine options to try. Cheers to that.

Pick an orange wine.

NOMADICA ORANGE WINE | Okay, hear us out. Canned wine is actually way more sustainable than those heavy glass bottles—because they’re so much lighter to ship—but that doesn’t mean they’re not elevated too. Each of these stunning cans features an original illustration inspired by the varietal inside, and even a custom playlist to add to the sensory experience of every sip. We found Nomadica for its aesthetic, but it’s also zero-sugar and award-winning, best for drinkers who prefer their wine dry. Its emphasis on accessible taste means that it’s a fantastic entry-level option for vinos who are tentative about wading into the “healthier” wine promise.

What exactly is orange wine? “Skin-contact” wine—which often has an orange hue—isn’t a mix of white and red. Instead, it signals a process in which the grapes are fermented with their skins still on, imbuing the wine with more antioxidants. It also usually has less sugar than other wines, which is why you’ll see many natural wine brands offering the varietal.

Go organic

AVALINE SAUVIGNON BLANC | For a more conventional (err—classic) option, actress Cameron Diaz’s zero-sugar wine brand Avaline is worth every sip. Each bottle contains less than one gram of sugar, and every option is vegan-friendly too. I nearly always get a headache after having a glass (and red-flushed rosacea to boot), but the additive-free nature of this bottle completely transformed my wine-drinking experience. With price points hovering around $20 to $30 per bottle too, the caliber of the wine feels entirely fair for an easy, delicious drinking experience without some of the drawbacks. You can also build your own box, or join the brand’s wine club for special perks.

No, you don’t have to give up red wine either.

FITVINE PINOT NOIR | Don’t they say something about red wine being good for your heart? You might have heard this old wives’ tale repeated by a family member or loved one. The jury’s still out on whether red wine is “practically medicine” for your cardiovascular health, but red wine does contain higher levels of resveratrol, which may help prevent blood vessel damage and similar. Consider this low-sugar pinot noir, which clocks in at only 119 calories per serving too.

Plan ahead to ensure you’re picking quality bottles

DRY FARM WINES CLASSIC MEMBERSHIP | Oftentimes, when I’ve picked a bottle that’s ended up tasting like a gross waste of $15-20, it’s because I panicked in the alcohol aisle while in a rush. I might be hosting a dinner, headed to a friend’s, or simply desperate to be done with my errands for the night. Plus, my wine suppliers don’t often have a wide range in selection.

Being intentional about your wine purchases can go a long way in making sure the bottles you choose align with your values and desires—like ethical farming, no additives, and the like. Dry Farm Wines offers an easy way to ship pure, artisan wines straight to your doorstep on a monthly cadence, so you won’t find yourself without. The price point’s absolutely higher per bottle, but the impressive caliber of each bottle makes it worth it—and might incentivize you to opt for six A+ bottles monthly rather than a steady stream of B- bottles you might pick up otherwise.