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