The Best Keto Wine & Low Carb Wine Selections

Can the keto diet and wine coexist together? Chances are, your gut instinct tells you that no – these two things can’t exist together. But, in actuality, they can! Of course, wiith the popularity of the keto diet booming more than ever before, companies have listened to their consumers and risen to the occasion. That means that there are keto-friendly products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Keto cereal? Yep, you can find that. Keto pasta? Yes, that too. And yes, you can actually drink wine and keep it keto. And that’s what this article is all about. Let’s dive into the fun topic of keto wine. 

The ketogenic, or keto for short, diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carbohydrate style of eating. The purpose of the keto diet is to switch the body’s main fuel supply from burning carbohydrates as energy to fat. This process is called ketosis. Therefore, many people start this diet to help them lose weight. Other reported health benefits of this diet include increased energy, more stable blood sugar levels, lowered levels of cholesterol, and more. 

To fully understand wines – and how they can even have a place while following a ketogenic diet – let’s first cover the basics of wine. And then we will dive deep into how a wine can be keto (or “dry”). Lastly, we will cover our favorite keto wine brands on the market right now. 

What is Keto Wine?

First things first, what is wine? Wine is made from grapes that have been juiced and then fermented. Other fruits can technically be used to make wine, but more often than not, when speaking about wine, it usually refers to grapes. 

So wine is made from grapes, but what gives certain wines their different characteristics? What makes a red different from a white – a chardonnay different from a merlot from a rosé?

Some of that difference can be explained by tannins. Tannins are naturally occurring compounds that are found in grapes (within the seeds, skins, and stems) – and other plants – sometimes also referred to as polyphenols. The polyphenols are what give wine those antioxidants that people love to rave about while sipping on their nightly glass of Cabernet. Polyphenols have antioxidant potential. Antioxidants are molecules that help fight off free radicals (aka compounds that can cause harm to your cells) in your body. 

But back to the tannins – tannins are what cause a wine to have that drying sensation in your mouth when you drink it. The more tannins, the drier the wine will feel in your mouth. 

The Different Types of Keto Wine

There are, of course, different types of wines. The broad categories of wine include red, white, rosè, and sparkling.

Red Keto Wines

Red wines are most commonly known for having that “dry” feel in your mouth. Red wines are red because they are fermented with the skins of purple or red grapes. Red grapes have more tannins than white. This leads to higher tannin content in the wine – creating that bitter mouth sensation that is characteristic of certain wines.

White Keto Wines

White wines come from white or green grapes or grapes that haven’t been fermented in the skins or spent less time in the skins – leading to less tannins in the wine. This usually leads to a crisper, sweeter, or more tart flavor. 

Rosé Keto Wines

Rosé wine – or sometimes called blush wine – is pink because the grapes spend *a little bit* of time in the red grape skins but definitely not as much time as it would take to make it into a red wine. These types of wines are known to have floral, citrus, or melon taste qualities. Rosé wines can operate on a spectrum from sweet to dry – again, depending on the tannin content.

Sparking Keto Wines

Sparkling wines are another category of wines. These wines are carbonated – occurring either from the fermentation process or adding it in after fermentation. You’ll most commonly find white or rose sparkling wines, but there are also some red varieties as well. Sparkling wines can be dry, sweet, or anywhere in between. There is something to suit every type of taste preference. 

What is Keto Wine? 

While there is no official designation or certification for keto wines, there are wines that are way more keto friendly than others. Ideally, a keto wine is one that has a lower alcohol content and a small amount or zero residual sugar. Wines with zero residual sugars are sometimes referred to as dry wines. 

When we call a wine a “dry wine,” what we mean is that the wine has no residual sugar. It’s not at all sweet. In the wine making process, when the winemaker stops the fermentation process leads to the sweetness or dryness of the wine.

In the case of a dry wine, the winemaker has allowed the ferment to complete. This means that the yeast has eaten all of the sugar. Compare this to another wine where the fermentation stopped before all the sugar was gone. This is what leads to the sweetness or “dryness” notes in wine. 

Because of the lack of sugar in these wines, they can be occasionally included on a ketogenic diet. While you can scour your grocery store shelves and read all of the wine labels searching for the perfect one to include on your keto diet, it’s actually easier than ever to find keto-friendly options. Here are our favorites. 

Our Favorite Keto Wine Subscription

Dry Farm Wines

Dry Farm Wines has solved the issue for people who want to enjoy wine but stay on track towards their health and wellness goals. Dry Farm Wines is the first health-focused wine club in the world. These wines are sugar-free (perfect for paleo, keto, or low carb!) and lower alcohol. They are also lab tested for purity, and are all-natural and additive free. We love Dry Farm Wines because of their high standards. Wines have to meet all of their qualifications to make it into their boxes. This means that when you choose Dry Farm Wines, you are choosing the highest quality, health-focused wines on the market. 

So, how does Dry Farm Wines work? This is a subscription based wine club that delivers a box of wines straight to your door. And they offer a number of different memberships no matter what wines you love. Their subscription choices include: all red, all white, red + white, rosè, and sparkling. 

In each order, you receive a unique selection of 6 or 12 extraordinary Natural Wines sourced from small farms around the world. Each shipment includes different grape varieties, countries, and styles. Because Dry Farm Wines is fanatical about purity, every wine is lab-tested to be sugar-free (less than 1 g/L), low in sulfites, and lower in alcohol (12.5% or less). You know you are getting the best wines on the market with each and every box that arrives at your door. 

Learn more about Dry Farm Wines here. 

Other Keto Wine Options

There are some particular types of wines that are more keto friendly than others. Here are the  most keto-friendly types of wine and our recommended brand of each. 

Pinot Blanc 

Pinot Blanc varieties are a good option for a keto-friendly wine because most ring in at 3 grams or less of carbs per glass. 

We recommend: David Paige Wines 2020 RPG Vineyard Pinot Blanc ($28)

Robb Report describes this wine as “White blossom aromas are carried by hints of ocean breeze, with tree fruits, pretty citrus, white peach, and river-stones joining in. The palate is full of tension and verve, intensely flavored with citrus and stone fruit that evolve into tropical notes and exotic minerality on the finish.”

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon blanc is another solid option for a keto wine. Ringing in at around 3 grams per serving, a glass of a sauvignon blanc at night would fall into a well-balanced keto diet. 

We recommend: Staete Landt Duchess Sauvignon Blanc ($29.99)

A medium-bodied, multidimensional wine with layers of fruit like spicy pear and mango. 

Pinot Noir

Our favorite type of red wine that only packs 3.4 grams of carbs per glass with the added benefit of those antioxidants we talked about earlier. 

We recommend: Decoy California Pinot Noir ($18.99)

A classic pinot noir that’s been described as light and silky. Perfect to pair with your favorite pork recipe. 

Champagne 

If you love the bubbles that come with champagne, don’t fear! You can have your dry champagne and still stay in ketosis as a glass only contains 2 grams of carbohydrates. 

We recommend: Champagne Brut by Delamotte ($50.99)

This one is moderately priced and perfect to “cheers” to a special occasion or pair with your favorite cured meats and cheeses. 

Keto Wine Is a Great Low Carb Option

No matter which wine is your favorite, there is most likely a keto option that will allow you to indulge in a glass of wine every now and then while still sticking to your nutrition goals. If you want to make keto wines as easy as possible, join Dry Farm Wines. This is simply the best way to enjoy the highest quality wines without worrying about carbohydrate, alcohol, and sulfite content.