When Cheap Wine Just Isn't Worth It

Cheap wine isn't like cheap beer or liquor. If you buy a bottle of "Two Buck Chuck" or a box of Franzia, it may not taste like an award-winning pinot, but it definitely won't be as bad as cheap liquor. In fact, some go as far to argue that cheap wine doesn't taste any different than the fancy stuff.

If you winos out there are feeling a bit defensive, pump the breaks — we love a cheap glass of wine here and there, but we also have our issues with the concept.

Yes, the taste difference between cheap wine and expensive wine isn't black and white, but how low-quality vino is affecting your body is a completely different story.

In the spring of 2015, a lawsuit was filed against several California wineries claiming that dozens of them were violating the law by knowingly selling wine that contained arsenic. Yes, you read that right — if you are actively drinking cheap wine, you may essentially be drinking poison.

According to LA Weekly, some of the most popular brands that were included in the lawsuit were Sutter Home, Wine Cube, Franzia, Cupcake, and good old Charles Shaw (aka Two Buck Chuck). A majority of these wines sell for under $10 a bottle. Is arsenic not a good enough excuse for you to stop downing the cheap stuff? We have another reason.

Sugar is bad for your body — there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Wondering what this has to do with wine? Well, the cheap stuff tends to have more sugar than pricey brands. In fact, a lot of inexpensive wine brands actually contain added sugar. In our opinion, what's the point? You might as well get more bang for your buck and sip on a mixed drink with soda.

For those of you who need proof to believe it, just take a look at nutrition labels and you'll see — there are eight grams of sugar in a five-ounce serving of Franzia Moscato.

Feeling the need to defend your favorite brand of boxed wine? Overall, it's completely the drinker's preference — and though we're sharing our criticisms right now, we also have some reasons why cheap wine isn't all that bad. Click here to see them.

The accompanying slideshow is provided by Juliet Tierney.