Quote:
Originally posted by Shpoop
...anyways i thought red vs white wine was purple vs green grapes... in fact i was almost positive... so are u saying that they are both teh same types of grapes just with and without skin? or purple grapes with skin and green grapes without skin?
|
You're right - It's a little of both.
While chardonnay and chablis grapes are green, and produce white wines; and cabernet and merlot grapes are purple, and produce red wines, there are exceptions - for example, pinot grigio grapes are dark, but produce a white wine. Why? - because the seeds, stems, and skins are generally not used in making white wine. That's why white wines have less tannins.
Tannins are also a pigment, so you could generally assume that the darker the grape, the more tannins it contains. But wood also contains tannins, and many wines absorb tannins from the oak barrels in which they are stored.
Not only do tannins act as a preservative, but many wines that contain a lot of tannins are undrinkable for years - until the tannins start to mellow (tannins are astringent - they make your mouth pucker and dry out). That's why older wines are more expensive - they must be stored for years before they can be enjoyed.
Think of them as an investment - every year they go up in price.
OK - I just realized this is way TMI for a coke thread. Sorry.