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What’s in a Glass of Wine? The Colors You’ll See & What They Mean

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There are many options in the world of wine, and picking one can seem overwhelming. While you can drink your favorite red or white without knowing too much about it, it’s always nice to have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into before taking that first sip. That’s why we’ve put together this list of what you might see on the color spectrum when you pick up your next bottle of wine, along with what those colors mean and how they might impact your taste buds when you’re drinking your glass (or two).

Types of Red Wines

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Red wines are traditional favorites, but there are many different shades of red. There are five major categories to watch out for: ruby, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, and pinot noir. Ruby is generally considered the lightest with a ruby-red color. Merlot comes next as it is less deep than most reds. Cabernet Sauvignon has always been popular among wine drinkers due to its darker hue.

How the Skin Affects Wine Color

Red wine gets its color from the skin contact time during fermentation. Red wines are made when red grape skins are used as the primary colorant, while white wines have additional skin contact with green grapes.

Types of White Wines

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White wines have a light-colored or yellowish hue due to the absence of contact with grape skins during fermentation. Typical examples include Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Muscadet. Pinot Grigio has been noted for its straw color.

Green, Blue, Purple Wines

There are many wine colors to be found on your travels. Just as there are many different wines, there are also many different color wines. But what does it all mean? We break down the different hues of wine and what you can expect from each one.

Types of Rosé Wines

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-Chambourcin Rosé: has a deep pink hue with some purple undertones, this wine is smooth and less acidic. -Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé: Cabernet Sauvignon rosé wines are typically lighter than other varieties, but can also vary from light pink to magenta depending on the grape blend. -Sauvignon Blanc Rosé: these wines can be more acidic because they use fewer grapes than others.

Understanding How Wine is Made

Wine is made by fermenting grape juice with yeasts. There are different styles of wines such as dry, sweet, sparkling, and dessert wine. Sweet wines are sweeter than dry wines because they have higher sugar content. To make the color darker, some winemakers will place their grapes under a dark cloth for three days before pressing them. Grape skins provide tannins which make the wine taste harsh or astringent if not given time to age.

Yellow Wines

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Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, and Chablis are all examples of yellow wines. Color plays an important role in wine tasting as it is one way to get the party started! What you see is not what you always get when it comes to yellow wines. For example; if you swirl a glass of white wine before drinking and it becomes cloudy then you know that there is yeast sediment on the bottom.

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