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| How to taste wine |
Scale of wine colours
There are many variables which influence the colour of a wine:
firstly the type of vine, then the characteristics of the land, the year (more
or less favourable), the degree of maturity, vinification, ageing, age and so
on. The colour nonetheless remains the primary indicator in evaluation of a wine
and is measured in relation to other aspects which have to be borne in mind during
the visual examination. Below is a colour scale for different types of wine.
White Wines
From 'almost white' to
'almost orange'. White wines have a wide range of colours which depend greatly
on the vine, ripeness of the grape and age. It should be remembered that the colour
of white wines also tends to intensify with age. Grey hues and faded colours are
undesirable as they are often negative signs.
Paper white
A
wine which has almost no colour, often fragrant wines to be drunk young. Greenish
hues are also an indicator of youth and freshness.
Straw yellow
The typical clear yellow colour, distinguished by intensity (more or less deep).
Golden yellow
An intense yellow, found in particular grape varieties.
Often found in major white wines, those of a certain longevity or which have been
aged in wood.
Amber yellow
The typical colour of dried grape
wines, fortified wines and, in any case, wines from very ripe grapes.
Rosé Wines
There is a broad
range of shades for rosé wines which depends on how long the must has been
left in contact with the skins. Yellow-orange colouring indicates age, a negative
characteristic for rosés, wines are distinguished by the freshness and
young fruit aromas.
Peach flower pink
Brings to mind the petals
of the peach flower.
Cherry pink
A fairly intense pink like
the first cherries.
Dark pink
More red than rosé, but
does not reach the intensity of red wines.
Onion skin
An intense
pink with hints of orange.
Grey or coppery
Typical of a grape
with a 'coppery' berry like Pinot Gris which is left in a short maceration with
the skins.
Red Wines
Unlike
white wines, as red wines age there is a progressive decrease in the intensity
of the colour. Purplish red is typical of the youngest wines, but orangey tints
are seen in older wines.
Purplish red
Intense, tending to violet, typical of young wines.
Ruby red
The most common colour - a deep red reminiscent of ruby. Marks wines to be drunk
relatively young, as an indicator of the right stage in their development for
drinking.
Garnet red
A colour which tends towards blood red.
The first sign of maturity in a wine. A garnet red wine or one tending towards
this colour has aged for a least a couple of years. It usually indicates good
development.
Orange
Usually seen when the wine takes on hints
of brick red. The typical sign of ageing, the right stage of development for great
wines which develop their full character with age, but in wines which cannot cope
with ageing means they are past their best.
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