People are realising how much sugar is hidden even in savoury store-bought foods, never mind such "healthy" snacks as low-fat yoghurt. At least wine doesn't contain added sugar. But did you know some dry wines contain more calories than some sweet wines? That's because more sugar has been converted into alcohol, and alcohol has seven calories per gram while carbohydrates (sugar) have only four calories per gram.The jury's still out on whether those alcohol calories count, given that alcohol isn't "digested" like food but metabolised by the liver, with about 10% also excreted via the lungs and bladder. story_article_left1Some therefore argue that alcohol has a minimal effect on weight gain while others counter that metabolising alcohol (a toxin) takes priority over burning fat, thereby promoting weight gain.What do I think? I think a little of what you fancy does you good. The question is, what do you fancy?Let's take one producer, Fleur du Cap, and one variety, chenin blanc. At one extreme is its Bergkelder Selection Noble Late Harvest dessert wine (R135/375ml bottle), famous for having received a five-star Platter's rating for seven consecutive vintages, the current vintage 2013 weighing in with 235g/l of residual sugar (twice as much as Coke!), albeit at a mere 9.1% alcohol by volume.At the other extreme is their Natural Light 2014 (R44/bottle), described as "guilt-free" and "ideal if you are watching your waistline" because its alcohol by volume is only 9.7%. Yet its residual sugar content is 9.5g/l, putting it firmly in off-dry if not semi-sweet territory!I'd rather savour a thimble of the rich, honeyed dessertwine than half a bottle of the slightly cloying "diet" wine, and the best compromise might be the Bergkelder Selection Chenin Blanc 2014 (R58/bottle) at 13.2% alcohol by volume with 2.9g/l residual sugar, dry yet brimming with ripe tropical fruit. ..