The Key Differences Between Red vs. White Wine

The love for a nice glass of wine cuts across class, tribe and gender. With everyone somehow having a sense for a good glass. You've probably sampled a wide range of red wines and white wines. However, are you familiar with the distinctions between reds and whites? The color is the most evident distinction between red and white wine, but other aspects contribute to this difference. We'll take a look at Red vs. White wine and their key differences in this article. Read on!

White Vs. Red Wine

Grapes Used

With its robust flavor and unique scent, red wine has a long history of use across a wide variety of cultural contexts. Crushing red or black grapes along with their stems, peel, and seeds initiates the fermentation process that leads to red wine. Red wine can be made from either red or black grapes.

On the other hand, white wine is typically created from white grapes but can also be made from dark or even red grapes. This particular style is known as "Blanc de Noir." To transform this type into a delectable alcoholic beverage, the grapes are also crushed under pressure to extract the juice. However, before beginning the fermentation process with yeast, the skin, seeds, and stems need to be removed from the fruit. The entire grape is used in the production of red wine; thus, there is no waste.

The Fermentation Procedure

When making wine, the grapes are first crushed into a must, and then the maceration process begins either before or after the fermentation process. Maceration is the process through which the wine's skins impart their color, tannic structure, and flavor profile to red wines.

During the fermentation process, the longer the grape remains in touch with its skins, the deeper color will be imparted to the wine by the phenolic compounds. These chemicals are responsible for the wine's crisp flavor and astringent quality. The temperature range of 68 to 80 degrees fahrenheit is ideal for the fermentation process of red wines.

For white wines they are put through the crushing machine and then pressed so that only their cloudy liquid can be extracted. White wines are typically fermented at temperatures between 57 and 65 degrees fahrenheit, which retards the aging process of these sensitive grapes and results in a lower tannin concentration in the wine's final product.

Taste / Flavor Profile

Red wine is matured for extended periods, resulting in the accumulation of tannins over time. Consequently, you end up with a beverage that has an incredible depth of flavor and a texture that gets even more refined with age. Tannins are responsible for red wines' dry texture, and dense flavor profile; they are found in high concentrations in red wines.

With white wine, you can anticipate a clean and revitalizing flavor and floral and citrusy scents. Richer whites will have nutty or buttery flavors, but they won't be as tannic as red wines are renowned for being. Instead, it will have a high acidity level, which will cause it to have a flavor that is both thrilling and tart.

The flavor profiles of red and white wines are distinctly dissimilar, which helps to set them apart from one another.

In Conclusion

Your meal would be greatly improved by adding either white or red wine. Personal preference is the most important consideration when picking a bottle of wine to accompany dinner. At Scampo, you can purchase the type of wine that most suits your taste, whether it be a dry, crisp white or a robust, fruity red. Give us a call today at 617-536-2100 or fill out a contact form online.