Share
Wines come in all sorts of colours and levels of alcoholic content but honestly who can keep up? But if you are a wine enthusiast you have probably always wondered what makes white and red wines so variant even though essentially both have the name 'wine' in them, and they taste almost alike.
Now, a basic difference between white wine and red wine is that the former is made with white grapes while the latter is prepared using red grapes. But originally, both were made with one species of grape called Vitis vinifera, and it’s claimed that those grapes are actually black in colour. However, they are some varieties of white wine that are made from red grapes and this style is called “blanc de noir”.
Even the fermentation process varies, red wines are fermented with skins and seeds, but white ones aren’t.
Red wines are loved for their wonderfully soft yet rich, and velvety flavours, while white wines are enjoyed for their zesty acidity, floral aromas, and lovely fruity notes. The major distinction between their winemaking is the oxidation process that causes the wines to lose their floral and fruit notes in exchange for rich, nutty flavours and more smoothness.
While the majority of white wines are matured in cast iron vessels, red wines are actually aged in oak barrels. This may not sound like much but in the end product, you can taste a real difference.
You can pair your red wines with fatty or red meats, while white wines sit better with white meat and veggies. A rule of thumb is to enjoy heavy meals with red wine and lighter foods with white wine.
In some cultures, white wine is assumed to be a day wine while red wine is supposed to be enjoyed at night with dinner.
Now the question is, which wine is better?
The answer depends on your preference. Red wines are the way to go if you love berries. If citrusy notes are more your thing then enjoy a glass of the white stuff.
