The spectrum of wine colors invites curiosity, each shade a vibrant chapter in a bottle's tale, waiting for us to sip and explore its unique essence. By observing the hue, you might infer its flavor profile, character, and age, as well as make an educated guess about its origin. The depth of the color offers clues about the wine's body and style, while the specific shade can hint at its flavor and maturation. Here is a quick guide on how the color can give us more of the wine’s story: 

Type of Wine

• Red Wines: Generally range from deep purple to ruby red to garnet, depending on the grape variety and age.
• White Wines: Typically range from pale straw to golden yellow, and can sometimes have a greenish tint.
• Rosé Wines: Have a pink hue, which can range from pale salmon to a deeper pink. This color is from macerating the skins of red grapes over a period of time! 

Aging

• Red Wines: As red wines age, their color tends to become lighter and may take on brownish hues, indicating oxidation. As much as 85% of the color pigment in red wine is lost after 5 years of aging!
• White Wines: White wines can darken as they age, with deeper golden shades suggesting more age or oak influence.

Ripeness of Grapes

• Darker red wines often signify riper grapes, while lighter hues might suggest less ripeness or earlier harvesting.

Grape Variety

• Different grape varieties exhibit characteristic colors. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon is typically deep red, while Pinot Noir tends to be lighter.

Fermentation Process

• The length of time that the grape skins are in contact with the juice during fermentation affects the depth of color in red wines. Longer maceration results in darker wines.

Climate and Region

• Wines from warmer climates often have more intense colors due to riper grapes. Conversely, wines from cooler climates may appear lighter.

Potential Flavor Profile

• While color alone doesn't determine taste, deeper colored wines often have more concentrated flavors, while lighter wines may be more delicate and refreshing.

In summary, the wine's color can provide clues about its type, age, grape variety, ripeness, and potential flavor profile, though it shouldn't be the sole indicator of quality or taste. Tasting the wine is essential for a complete understanding.

Ready to learn more about the styles of wine while having a fun and interactive experience at the same time? Stop by one of our tasting rooms and one of our wine consultants can help you as you learn more and start to tailor your wine preferences. They can even help you pick out a bottle or two for you to take home so you can continue to taste the many wines there are to explore!