Although most people prefer to call red wine red wine, the fact is that red wine is a generic term for wine and does not necessarily refer specifically to red wine.
I. Why is red wine red and white wine white?
1. Where does the color of wine come from? Why is the color of wine different?
I believe many people know that the color of wine comes mainly from the grape skins. In fact! Depending on the color, wine grapes can also be divided into red and white, which can make a difference in the corresponding color of the wine. It is worth mentioning that white wine can also be made from red grapes (more on this later).
2. What gives the grape skins a certain color?
Since the color of wine comes from the skins, where does the color of the skins come from?
(1) White wine. Like lemons and other fruits, grapes contain large amounts of light flavonoids, which include a variety of different chemicals in yellow, beige, or white colors. White wine derives its color from these substances, so it usually appears light green, yellow, straw, or even the common light gray color of Pinot Grigio/Pinot Grigio.
(2) Red wines. Red grape varieties usually contain more anthocyanins, which are more red or purple. In addition to grapes, other vegetables and fruits such as red cabbage, beetroot, eggplant and berries also contain this anthocyanin.
The pigments in grapes are usually found in the skins, so the flesh is mostly lighter or even colorless, which is why red grapes can be used to make white wine. For example, Blanc de noirs is a white wine made from the red grape variety Pinot Noir or Meunier. For red wines, successful winemaking must effectively extract the pigments from the skins to produce the desired color and desired style.
Only a few grapes have color in their flesh. They are often referred to as “contaminants” and can often produce a more colorful juice. The most famous dyed grape is Alicante-Buschert.
3. How is the color of the grapes transferred to the wine?
(1) White wines. In fact, white wine almost never extracts color from the skin. After harvest, they are usually crushed directly and the juice is separated from the skins before fermentation, so that the color of white wine is roughly the same as the color of the flesh. Of course, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes white wines are subjected to a short maceration process of a few hours to increase the flavor intensity and color intensity.
(2) Red wines. Red wines are fermented with the skins, so the flesh and skins are usually placed together in fermentation tanks for skin maceration and color extraction, and the fermentation of the grape juice is also done together. Of course, red wines do not necessarily have to be fermented in the skins. Some people choose to extract the pigments quickly before fermentation, such as by heating the must quickly with a high temperature differential to facilitate the extraction of the pigments.
What are the differences between red and white wine making?
Obviously, the difference between red and white wines is not only in color. So, what are the differences between their respective winemaking processes?
1. White wines
Because some white wines undergo a short maceration process during the winemaking process, some white wines contain a small amount of tannin, which gives the wine (aftertaste) a certain bitterness and astringency. Of course, the specific content varies depending on the grape variety
2、Red wine
The tannins in red wines come mainly from the wine grapes: compared to white grape varieties, red grapes contain not only anthocyanins, but also more tannins. Tannins are also extracted and dissolved in the must during the skin maceration process, which gives red wines their unique tannin texture.
3. Are red wines more durable than white wines?
Because of the differences in the composition of red and white wines, they have different aging potential. Generally speaking, the polyphenols in red wines, such as tannins and anthocyanins, have strong antioxidant properties, which means that the grapes can grow slowly without fear of over-oxidation. Therefore, on balance, red wines are more durable than white wines.
However, not all red wines must have greater aging potential, as some high-quality white wines can sometimes be stored for longer than red wines.
