What Makes Red, White, and Rosé Wines Different?
It’s not just the variance in color that makes these three types of wine different. The color of a wine depends mainly on the production techniques and the type of grape—although you can get both reds and whites from the same grape. That’s why there are so many varieties within these three categories. Here’s how red, white, and rosé wines are different in production and flavor.
The Main Difference Is in the Production Technique
Generally, all wine goes through a similar production process:
Harvesting grapes when they are at their best.
Crushing the grapes.
Fermenting the crushed grapes and juices.
Aging the fermented wine.
Clarifying the aged wine.
To produce different kinds of wine, changes can be made in the fermenting, crushing, aging, and refining processes.
Red Wine: The entire grape is crushed and fermented, including the skins, the seeds, and the stems. This is what gives red wine its deep red color and earthier flavors.
White Wine: The skins, seeds, and stems are removed before the wine is fermented. This is why white wines are so light in color. They are fermented at cooler temperatures than red wines, and they are often “clarified” to make the wine look clear instead of cloudy.
Rosé: These varieties get their pink color because the skins of the grapes are allowed to ferment for a few hours before they are strained out. Like white wine, rosé is also fermented at cooler temperatures.
Aging can also have an effect on the color of the wine. The container that is used for aging can affect the color of the wine. For example, when wine is aged in a wooden barrel, it can make the color of the wine deeper and change the taste as well. That’s why an oak barrel-aged chardonnay is more yellow than an un-oaked variety.
Does the Type of Grape Change the Color of the Wine?
Red Wine: Most commonly, these wines are made with purple or black grapes. The color and flavor can also be impacted by the skin of the grape, with thinner skins making lighter reds and thicker skins making ones.
White Wine: Whites are typically made from green or light red grapes that have been peeled to keep the wine as white as possible.
Rosé: This wine can be made with any grape variety. To get the pinky color of a rosé, the skins are left in with the crushed flesh for a short amount of time. How long it depends on the winemaker, and how dark they want their rosé to look.
How Does the Color of the Wine Affect the Flavor?
Red Wine: Typically described as bold and robust, some reds have the flavor of dark fruits like cherries, spices like clove, and sometimes an earthy note or a hint of smoke. The tannins in some red wines, like Malbecs, make them more bitter and dry.
White Wine: The overall taste profile for whites is much lighter and crisper. They can have fruity notes of citrus, stone fruits like apricot, or even tropical notes like pineapple. Others can be hearty, like an oak-aged chardonnay, and some have more floral or mineral notes. White wines are usually served chilled because of their sweetness.
Rosé: The flavor profile is often similar to a white wine, but with a deeper tone. Because they are on the sweeter side, rosé wines are also served chilled. However, they can stand up to heartier fare than a white wine, so rosé is often enjoyed during the summer.
Where to Enjoy Exceptional Wines in Chandler, Arizona
Our extensive wine list is one of the reasons DC STEAKHOUSE is known as the best fine dining experience in Chandler. Our hand-picked selections include reds, whites, and rosés that perfectly complement the dishes on our menu.
Whether you’re on vacation, celebrating a milestone, or simply don’t feel like cooking, book your table today!
Images used under creative commons license - commercial use (8/13/24). Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash.