How does the color of a white wine indicate its characteristics? From a pale wine such as Pinot Grigio to rich colored varieties such as Sauternes and oaked Chardonnay, when it comes to coloring in white wines, it’s more about lightness and darkness.
Did you also know that a wine’s color can reveal much about how it tastes? White wines boasting green hues are more savory, with grassy green flavors; whereas more golden-copper yellow hues suggest more fruity notes.
Let’s find out what the color differences in white wine truly mean and what insights they offer!
What to look for to Spot Color Differences in White Wine?
There are two key aspects to pay attention to as far as noticing color differences goes. How light refracts through wine and how intense the color is. These attributes are giveaways of the wine’s nature and type that will let you tell them apart as if you were a first-class wine connoisseur. But why are these two aspects so revealing?
Light refraction through wine will result in lighter or darker white wines. We already know that white wine means clear wine of course. However, as it happens with red wine, what matters the most are the color tones or hues not the color itself. Some white wines will afford colors like yellow, green browns and oranges; they may also feature a tawny appearance. The way light refracts depends on the composition of wine, which also hinges on a range of things. Grape type, the age of the grapes, barrel type and color extraction from the grape skins all have to do with the final result.
Then we have to consider color intensity, the saturation of color in white wine hits at its richness. For instance, the color of Chardonnay can range from a pale yellow to a deep gold. Generally speaking, paler white wines are fresher and younger in contrast to darker, more bodied mature wines.
What Do Color Differences in White Wine Mean?
Color variations help you identify many characteristics of the type of white wine you are about to enjoy and its composition. Let’s have a quick look at an overview of the most important variations:
- Light Yellow or Pale Green — This variation is very often almost colorless boasting high clarity with a colored overtone. Pinot Grigio, Muscadets, Vinho Verde or Albarino can be found in this color range.
- Light Gold or Lemon Yellow — Most white wines fall into this color range. We find Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, Chenin Blancs all also featuring yellow overtones.
- Pale golden/deep golden — This hue points at mature, oaked or highly extracted color. Generally speaking, aged Chardonnays, Viogniers or Marsannes belong to this category. These white wines boast bolder flavors and low acidity levels.
- Deep gold, saturated straw gold, browns, amber green and orange tones — Wines affording these color variations can be broad, both either dull or dark. Sweet wines and dessert wines such as Sherry fall into this color group. However, this color can also mean the wine is past its peak and oxidizing.
There you have it! Determine the quality of a white wine and amaze your friends in your next cheese & wine party identifying its characteristics just by the color. Don’t ever think again that wine coloring is as simple as it looks! Discovering the secrets of colors in wine is always a delight, there’s more to winemaking that meets the eye!
Discover the Colors of VenToSpain
Spanish wines are renowned for their high quality. When it comes to drinking wine there’s no accounting for taste, and that’s why we invite you to try our carefully crafted wine line VenToSpain. Explore and experience the colors of Spain from the bottle to the wineglass.
Sources: www.grapebeginningswine.com, www.wines.com
