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Article #361: Red Wine and White Wine

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






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