Red Wine vs White Wine The Real Differences

In the battle of Red VS White, which one reigns the best? Well, there’s no single answer to it. Some people choose different wines according to price range. Others prefer according to the taste. A lot of wine fanatics are also quite particular about which ones are the best in relation to the occasion and the ease of purchase. To buy red wine online Singapore residents visit several curated wine websites for their special moments. Others buy organic white wines to enjoy a lazy summer evening through wineries and shops.

Mostly the preference comes down to the colour and visuals, but there are a few more factors that determine how these two wines are distinct. So let’s see one by one, about the reds and the whites.

Colour

This is the most basic difference in red and white wine. White wine is not exactly white but as the term has been coined for several years, we’ve gotten used to it. The actual colour of it when you see in a glass is somewhere between golden-yellow and sometimes pale to deep yellow. In the case of red wines, the name is absolutely correct. Red wines can be different shades of red- be it purple-red, garnet red or ruby red. This colour comes not from the juice, but actually from the skin of the grapes which stays intact during the fermentation process.

Method of making

You must be thinking that white wine comes from white (green) grapes and red wine from red/purple grapes. Well, that doesn’t always happen. All the grapes virtually produce clear juice. So the juice from green grapes after removing the skin gets converted to the clear, white wine we drink. But a lot of times, white wine is made from red grapes, a style which is referred to as ‘blanc de noir’. In this method, the skin is removed before the fermentation process. On the other hand, what makes red wine red is the grape skin that is not removed during the fermentation process, which is called "maceration". It is responsible for extracting the flavour and colour during the process.

Taste profiles

Due to the different production methods, it is clear that red wines and white wines have unique stylistic and taste profiles. Not to generalise, but red wines usually invoke fruity mixed with berry flavours like strawberries, blueberries, cassis, cherries, etc. there are also secondary flavours like tobacco or leather which add a dimension to its taste. Whereas for whites, there are flavours of citrus fruits, sometimes orchard fruits like apples and peaches and even tropical fruits like mangoes, guavas, and pineapples.

Due to the different production methods, it is clear that red wines and white wines have unique stylistic and taste profiles. Not to generalise, but red wines usually invoke fruity mixed with berry flavours like strawberries, blueberries, cassis, cherries, etc. there are also secondary flavours like tobacco or leather which add a dimension to its taste. Whereas for whites, there are flavours of citrus fruits, sometimes orchard fruits like apples and peaches and even tropical fruits like mangoes, guavas, and pineapples.

Other than these flavours, factors like acidity in whites give the distinct tartness to the white wines and the presence of tannins in red wines acts as a backbone for their complex characteristic.

Health Benefits

Reds and whites both have some similar and some different health benefits. On one hand, white wines are lower in calories and on the other, red wines have higher content for resveratrol that protect your blood vessels and may regulate blood pressure. Red wine also contains higher levels of silicon than the white, which increases the bone density and decreases the chance for osteoporosis.

Food pairings

The conventional notions signify that we should drink white wines with lighter food like seafood and red wines with heavier meat-based dishes. Which makes total sense. These pairings have evolved as classics due to the intuitive understanding as to how the different components of food like salt, fat, acid, etc react with different wines. But then again, the fun begins when rules are broken. If you’re having a fleshy salmon, it need not be paired with white wine, especially if it is cooked with a heavy mushroom-based sauce, it calls for an earthy red. Similarly, pineapple-glazed beef skewers in a tangy mango-chilli chutney would go really well with a bottle of crisp white wine.

Popular red wines

Ch. de Maris ‘Les Planels’ 2014

Chateau de Maris exhibits the vision of the winemaker of showcasing the true character of the land where the grapes were grown. You can easily buy red wine online Singapore via our website for the most exquisite options.

Sight: The wine gives out a deep purple colour with hints of ruby red in the glass.

Smell: The wine has a robust nose of blackberries, plum, chocolate, and oak which gives a complex aroma to it in the glass.

Taste: It has an intense taste with flavours of dark cherry and leather that gives this wine a layered luxuriousness and a long, smooth finish. It is well balanced and the mouthfeel is dry and acidic.

Giovanni Manzone Barbera d’Alba Superiore ‘La Marchesa’ 2016

While making this wine, the winemaker has focussed on the exceptional flavours and the balanced acidity that you can truly enjoy in the glass.

Sight: The wine has an intense ruby red with nuances of deep purple with a little transparency in the glass. Smell: The aromas start with pleasing hints of cherry, blackberry and tobacco followed by chocolate, blueberry, violet, menthol, and vanilla.

Taste: It gives out a tannic attach with the balancing alcohol and good body. It has intense flavours of cherry, blackberry, and plum that gives this wine a crisp and persistent finish.

Popular white wines

Battle of Bosworth Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2019

This organic white wine from McLaren Vale, Australia and has the whiff of a military operation in its making. This, along with cool fermentation is what makes it unique.

Sight: It has a light green grass colour in the glass, with traces of golden yellow in it.

Smell: The wine smells of fresh-cut grass, a hint of passionfruit, and citrus fruits. It also has an earthy bouquet of apricots, stone, slate, and other stone fruits.

Taste: The palate is zippy and citrusy with a slightly tropical flavour to it. Perfect for a summer lunch.

Spring Seed Wine Company ‘Four O’Clock’ Chardonnay 2018 (Organic)

This attractive Chardonnay comes from a family-run vineyard and was made using various components that were handled separately and carefully for a distinct result.

Sight: This wine is a deep straw colour with a splendid golden effect in the glass.

Smell: The Chardonnay has a nose of lime and nectarine with a crisp finish. Its aroma grows complex with layers of apricot, hints of melon, nectarine, and apple.

Taste:It has some vibrant and balanced characters of stone fruits, pineapple, and citrus, without the oak influence to it. The taste is combined with fresh, crisp acidity to make for a subtle wine with considerable length.

All that said, there are so many wonderful wine options on the market and there’s no reason to limit yourself. Treat yourself to a range of different wines. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy having fun with differences in the wines!