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Do you call yourself a wine enthusiast? You must know all the hues in which the drink is sold across the globe. Whether it’s an Italian dinner or a starter spread, this alcoholic beverage complements the flavours as well as the hues of the tablescape. Prepared by fermenting grapes, each variety has a different ageing process.
From red to white, vivid colours of wines often tell you what to expect from them. Alcohol and food connoisseurs are even particular about which wine to pair with and what kind of delicacies. Here is your guide to understanding wines and their soft and deep colours.
Red Wine
Red wine is among the most popular choices among bibulous and television shows. The garnet, purple, or ruby red hue depends on the maturation process and the variety of black grapes that yield bottles of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Since the skin of the fruit remains intact during fermentation, it infuses the drink with deep colour. This variety is aged in oak barrels for the depth of notes. However, the deep red colour can transform into brick red because of oxidation.
Orange Wine
Have you ever seen a bottle of wine with a golden orange or deep amber colour? These are made using white grapes which are fermented without peeling off the skin. The tannins are extracted from the topmost layer for the hue, and then the beverage is aged in clay amphorae (a part of ancient wine-making technique). Some vendors also mature it in oak barrels for honey flavours and a nutty nose.
Also Read: Top 10 Red Wine Brands Of India With Prices
White Wine
A bottle of white wine is another popular option served in restaurants, especially Italian, across the globe. Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc belong to this category. The skin of yellow or green grapes is removed before the fermentation to yield a clear beverage. Some people age them in oak barrels for butter flavour and rich texture, while others prefer stainless steel tanks for crispiness.
Blue Wine
A bottle of blue wine is rare to find in even high-end alcohol stores. The blue colour comes from infusing white or red grapes with anthocyanins (comes from grape skin) and indigo dye. It is not a traditional drink but a modern beverage that people are perfecting with techniques and trial-error methods. It is stored in stainless steel tanks and consumed fresh.
Rosé Wine
Rosé wine is available in salmon, light pink, and coral hues. It is also made from red grapes but the fruit comes in limited contact with the skin. This is why it has a light shade range compared to red wine. Some vendors also prepare it by blending white and red beverages. Depending on the flavour one wants to infuse the drink with, one can age it in a stainless steel container or an oak. It is usually consumed young so that a person can enjoy the fruit and floral nose.
Green Wine
Yes! There is a variety of green wine in the market, and it is a Portuguese alcoholic beverage. Producers use unripe and young grapes and ferment them rather quickly to maintain the fruity and citrus nose. Since this requires minimal ageing, vendors use stainless steel containers for crisp and fresh flavour.
Yellow Wine
With a deep golden or yellow hue, this variety of wine adds a luscious touch to an Italian or French tablescape. It is a French alcoholic drink made from Savagnin grapes and aged in barrels with no toppings so that a layer of yeast can develop in six years and impart a distinct aroma and notes. When oxidised, it often exudes flavours of curry, walnuts, and spices.
