How Many Calories in a Glass or Bottle of Champagne?

Champagne is the world's most popular sparkling wine. With its roots in sixteenth century France and its association with royalty, Champagne is a festive drink that has only been recently recognized as potentially beneficial for brain health as well as being one of the lowest calorie alcoholic beverages.

History

Although legend says that the Benedictine monk Dom Perignon invented Champagne in the late 1600s, most historians now credit the English scientist Christopher Merret who, in 1662, presented the Royal Society with a research paper detailing his discovery that the addition of sugar to a finished wine caused a second fermentation producing sparkling wine.
After many advances in sparkling wine production (several of which were achieved by Dom Perignon), Champagne quickly became recognized as a drink associated with high social status and celebratory events.

Identification

Champagne is made by adding sugar to an already bottled wine in order to cause a secondary fermentation. This second fermentation produces carbonation and Champagne's characteristic bubbles.
The product takes its name from the Champagne region of France where, by law in the European Union, only sparkling wines made in this region from white Chardonnay, black Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes can be legally called Champagne.

Considerations

Champagne is always served cold (ideally between 43 and 48 degrees F) and is traditionally drunk from long-stemmed Champagne flutes with a very narrow bowl. The elongated shape of the flute helps preserve the bubbles in the Champagne.

Features

Champagne is one of the least caloric alcoholic beverages. While 12 oz. of beer typically ranges in caloric content from 150 to 250 calories, and mixed drinks a bit higher, a glass of Champagne is 91 calories, and an entire bottle is about 495 calories.

Benefits

Recent research indicates that moderate Champagne consumption may help brain cells recover from damage caused by Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and stroke. Champagne contains a large amount of polyphenols, antioxidants that are known to reduce oxidation and cell damage. A 2007 study by the University of Reading and the University of Cagliari revealed that people drinking Champagne had higher levels of brain cell restoration after exposure to neurotoxins than those not consuming Champagne; these results indicate that the polyphenols in Champagne may have a powerful restorative effect on the human brain.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Detailed information about Champagne