Red vs White Wine

 

Since wine has been around for thousands of years, it has typically been associated with wealth and prosperity. However, it is a fixture of the dinner table in certain nations, particularly those with meat-eating cultures. Wines, especially red and white wines, may offer significant health advantages, according to studies.

 

Today's sophisticated social scene, where influential individuals must endure endless cocktail parties, has elevated wine appreciation beyond a single drink or two. These few insights on the most well-liked wines will help you when you grab for that wine glass whether you're an aspiring wine (or even cuisine) connoisseur or simply someone who enjoys a nice drink or two.

 

Let's examine the two most in-demand wine categories: red wine and white wine.

 

Red Wine

 

One of the most well-known types of wine, red wine is named for its deep, rich colour, which ranges from violet to red to brown, and shows the wine's age, from young to mature and older. It is prepared from the red and black varieties of dark-coloured grapes and processed alongside those grapes' skins.

 

Red wines often have a greater alcohol concentration since they are matured in wood barrels. Doing this, they lose their fruity overtones and acquire smooth, nutty tastes. They complement lean meat dishes, such as stews and fowl, and it goes well with cheese, pizza, salads, and even chocolates as snacks.

 

 

White Wine

 

White wine is often produced using white grapes; however, some are also made using darker grapes. Because the peels are removed before fermentation, it has a pale hue, and white wine is sweeter than red wine after the skins are removed.

 

White wines are usually matured in stainless steel vats because they prevent oxidation and maintain the original floral and fruity tang. White wines are great before, between, and after meals because they are light and refreshing and pair well with light meals like fish, prawns, and veggies. The tangy, fruity flavour and aroma make it a perfect ingredient for cooking.

 

 

What Distinguishes Red Wine From White Wine?

In addition to the colour difference, there are other differences in the wine's flavour, the taste of the grapes used, and production methods. White wines typically have a fruity, dry character, and red wines usually taste thick and harsh.

 

However, the wine-making process is where the most significant distinction lies. White wines gain their delicate, sweet flavour from the absence of grape skins during fermentation. Before pressing and fermenting, the skins, stems, and seeds are eliminated. White wines have a lighter tint, and red wines have darker hues since the skins also contribute to the wine's colour.

 

Before fermentation, red wine is crushed with skins and seeds, which gives it a more prosperous, bitterer flavour. It also takes a lot longer to mature because the skins and juice are combined before being added directly to the vats.

 

While both red and white wines contain beneficial components, red wines are thought to offer more health advantages. The skin and seeds contain the most nutritional and healthy ingredients. One significant distinction is that only red wine contains resveratrol, which is believed to lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots. So it's well known that red wines can be heart-healthy if consumed in moderation. This article regarding The Health Benefits of Red & White Wine properly explains how it helps to boost our body’s health in its respective aspects.

 

While it is typical to use white grapes to make white wines and black or red grapes to make red wines, some red grapes can also be used to make white wines. Examples include Orange Wine, which utilises white grapes but is processed and tastes like red wine, and Blanc de Noirs sparkling white wine, which employs Pinot red grapes.

 

 

Which Popular Red Wine Varieties Are There?

Red wines are frequently categorised by their body type or how they feel in the mouth: light-bodied, medium-bodied, and full-bodied. Due to the plant chemical tannin found in grape skin and seeds, they frequently have a puckering sensation in the tongue and are bitter. They pair well with cheese, chocolate, and any meat.

 

  • Light-bodied: Pinot Noir and other red wines go well with vegetables, seafood like salmon or sushi, poultry, beef, and other meats. It is regarded as one of the lighter red wines, with a silky smooth texture and subtle fruity undertones like raspberry or cranberry.
  • Medium-bodied: sweet red wines go well with a platter of hot, smoked white and red meats and hard cheeses. An example is America's Merlot. There are several flavours, including chocolate, tea-like, and a pleasant fruity taste. It is pretty dry, so you can drink it with anything.

 

The Syrah, or Shiraz, is another excellent option in this category. It's a tasty beverage with blackberry undertones and is robust and peppery. It pairs well with a meal of salty, hot, and spicy meats and cheese because of its smokey, meaty flavour.

 

  • Full-bodied and flavorful, dry red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon go well with fatty foods like cheese, meat, and entire meals, including desserts. It has spicy currant and cherry undertones and is necessary for every meal. Its intense mouth-feel of tannin and high level of alcohol leaves a powerful effect on the senses.

 

Additional delicious red wines to sample:

 

  • Fruity Zinfandel is for you if you like a sweet red wine with a kick of alcohol. It pairs perfectly with pizza, pasta, BBQ pig ribs, and hot curry meats, thanks to its fiery strawberry tones.
  • Leaner meats like steaks and spicy Mexican or Indian dishes go well with Malbec's smokey plum or cherry flavours from France and Argentina.
  • With its intensely earthy flavour and cherry undertones, the red grape Sangiovese from Italy will tantalise your taste buds. It pairs well with pizza and spaghetti.
  • The robust acidic tannic flavours of Nebbiolo, another Italian classic, are also great for washing down hearty feasts of fatty game meat like geese, duck, and hog.

 

 

What Popular White Wine Varieties Are There?

Although there are many different types of white wines, a few are particularly well-liked by wine connoisseurs. The discerning palette has a wide variety of flavours, and white wines go well with meats like chicken and pork and fish and fruit. Let's examine the more well-known ones and how to appreciate them best.

 

  • Whites like Chardonnay typically pair well with grilled chicken, sautéed vegetables, shellfish, bread, and tomato-based pasta dishes. They are full-flavoured and rich. With its citrus or buttery flavour, this French wine is undeniably one of the most well-liked white wines. In the 1960s, it arrived in Australia and Californian wineries.
  • Light and dry: White foods and beverages like fresh salads, fish, and creams pair well with white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

 

The flavour and scent of France's Sauvignon Blanc vary depending on the temperature of the region it was grown in. It is crisp and refreshing, and it can improve the flavour of food with mild flavours by adding flavours ranging from sweet to green and floral to fruity.

 

The Italian variety is lighter and more acidic than the French variety of the golden-yellow Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio.

 

  • For party food like cheese platters, creamy pasta, bread, and smoked meats, sweet whites like Germany's Riesling are fantastic. The flavour and scent of this widely consumed white wine are fruity and crisp apples.
  • Other white wines worth mentioning include:
  • Another beloved dry and sweet white wine is the Semillon from France, which has a delicious fig flavour.
  • Viognier with its entire body, gentle tropical flavour, and spicy undertones from France, Australia, or California.
  • A dry Chenin Blanc from France with hints of apple and honey.
  • Dessert wine, French Pinot Blanc, is semi-dry and has nutty, sweet, crisp, and refreshing flavours.

 

There is at least one red wine or white wine out there for anybody who enjoys the complexity of this magnificent alcoholic beverage.

 

 

At Cellarbration, we have an endless variety of red and white wine available for everyone to choose from. We promise high quality products and be rest assured that transaction processes will be smooth. Contact us now to get your preferred bottle of red or white wine!