| I have been wondering about the difference | | | | tannins largely come from the grape skins, red |
| between red wines and white wines. To me, they | | | | wines have more of them than white wines. Red |
| taste quite different. Red wines are heavier and | | | | wine acquires it's tannins in the process of |
| more complex than white wine, and often tend to | | | | maceration (leaving juice to mix together with the |
| be less sweet. Why is this? Actually red and white | | | | skin, seeds and woody bits). It is the tannins and |
| wines are made quite differently. The differences | | | | skins of the red grapes which are released into |
| between red and white wines include the kinds of | | | | the wine that contribute to the deep color and |
| grapes used, the fermentation and aging process, | | | | flavor of red wine. Tannins have a slightly bitter |
| and the character and flavor of the wine. | | | | taste and create a dry puckery sensation in the |
| White wines are almost always made from white | | | | mouth and in the back of the throat; and often |
| grapes, although they can be made from black | | | | lend a wonderful complexity to red wine. They |
| grapes, since the juice in most black grapes is | | | | also help preserve the wine. This is why red wines |
| clear. When white wine is made, the skins of the | | | | are usually aged longer than white wines. |
| grapes are separated from the juice when they | | | | There are as many different flavor profiles |
| are put into a crushing machine. Then yeast is | | | | among red wines as there are among white ones. |
| added to the juice for fermentation, until the juice | | | | Some red wines are sweet and fruity, while some |
| becomes white wine. After filtering etc, the wine | | | | whites ( such as Chardonnay) have tannins from |
| is aged by storing it in stainless steel or | | | | being stored in oak containers. Some German |
| occasionally oak containers and bottled after a | | | | white wines have lasted for centuries, while some |
| few months. White wines, then, are made without | | | | red wines are made for immeadiate consumption. |
| skins or seeds and are essentially fermented | | | | For wines meant for consumption right away the |
| grape juice. They have a light character and have | | | | winemaker takes out the bitter tannins, creating a |
| crisp fruit flavors and aromas. They can be sweet | | | | fruity, fresh, and approachable wine. So, apart |
| or dry or somewhere in between. Chardonnay, | | | | from the color, there are no hard and fast rules |
| Pinot Grigio/ Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Sauvignon | | | | about the differences between red and white |
| Blanc are all white wines. | | | | wine. |
| Red wine is usually made from red or black | | | | Is it true that red wine is better for you? The |
| grapes, although all the kinds of grapes usually | | | | research of Dr Frankel has shown that red wine |
| have a clear juice. The process of making red | | | | contains more antioxidants than white wine, |
| wine is different from the one of making white | | | | although the total amount varies according to the |
| wine. After the grapes have been in the crushing | | | | variety of grape, region it was grown, the climate |
| machine, the red grapes with their skins and | | | | and soil it was grown in, and whether it was |
| everything sit in a fermentation vat for a period | | | | stored in oak (since wines stored in oak have |
| of time, typically about one to two weeks. . The | | | | more antioxidants) and the filtration techniques |
| skins tend to rise to the surface of the mixture | | | | used. However the antioxidants in white wine are |
| and form a layer on top. The winemaker | | | | apparently more effective. The research of Dr |
| frequently mixes this layer back into the | | | | Troup shows that the antioxidant molecules in |
| fermenting juice (which is called must). After | | | | white wine are smaller and thus more effective |
| fermentation is over, the new wine is taken from | | | | because they can be more easily absorbed. It |
| the vat. A little "free run" juice is allowed to pour | | | | seems that white wine is just as healthy as red |
| and the rest of the must is squeezed into "press | | | | wine. |
| wine". The wine is clarified and then is stored, | | | | In summary, the primary difference between red |
| usually in oak containers, for several months until | | | | and white wine is the amount of tannins they |
| it is ready to be bottled. The oak containers add | | | | contain, although there are no hard and fast rules |
| additional wood tannins and flavors to the wine | | | | about the differences between them outside of |
| which help to intensify it and add richness to it. | | | | the color of the wine. Usually red wines are more |
| The result of this process is that red wines exhibit | | | | complex, richer, and heavier, with spicy, herby, |
| a set of rich flavors with spicy, herby, and even | | | | and even meaty characteristics. White wines are |
| meaty characteristics. Beaujolais, Cabernet | | | | usually sweeter, and lighter, and have crisp fruit |
| Sauvignon, Chianti, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel | | | | flavors and aromas. Neither is significantly better |
| are all red wines. | | | | for you. Which wine is best for you to drink is |
| The main difference between red and white | | | | simply a matter of taste. |
| wines is the amount of tannins they have. Since | | | | |