01/03/06 White wine`s colors

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and on today's program we will take a closer look at the varying colors of white wine and what that color can tell you about the wine. Yes, it is true that not all white wines are alike and it is not even necessary to taste them to figure that out. Notice that some white wines are nearly as clear as water. These wines, likely made with high yield grapes that were pressed and fermented immediately upon harvest, taste pretty neutral. A wine with a little more color like a pale green is likely made from grapes that were picked when they were fully ripe and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Whereas if the wine is more of a pale yellow hue rather than pale green it is your first clue that the wine most likely has a lower acidity or is from a southern growing region. The deeper the colors the more likely the wine has greater intensity of flavors. For example, a medium golden yellow wine, indicates that this white wine may have been fermented in barrel or aged in the bottle. If the wine is more of a straw yellow than a golden yellow it is most likely a wine that even if from a recent vintage is developing complexity and is often fuller bodied. So take a good look at your next glass of white wine and see what you might possibly learn about it before you taste it. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's vine to wine.