There are many variables that influence the color of a wine: first of all the grape variety, then the characteristics of the soil, the year (more or less favorable), the degree of ripeness, the vinification, maturation, age and so on. The color nonetheless remains the initial indicator in the evaluation of a wine and is measured in relation to other aspects which have to be borne in mind during the visual examination. Here are the scales of colors for the different types of wine.
White wines
From “greenish yellow” to “amber yellow”, white wines have a vast range of colors, which depend a great deal on the grape variety, the ripeness of the grapes and the age of the wine. It should be remembered that the color of white wines also tends to intensify with age. Grayish hues and dull colors are undesirable as they are often signs that something is wrong with the wine.
Greenish yellow
This is a pale yellow with green highlights, which tend to diminish over time. This color is found in fresh young wines, sometimes from grapes that have been picked rather early.
Straw yellow
This is the most common shade of light yellow, with sometimes quite significant differences in intensity (more or less deep).
Golden yellow
This is a deep yellow that one finds from certain grape varieties. It is also often to be found in the highlights of full-bodied white wines that have a certain aging potential or have been matured in wood, or those whose grapes have undergone a period of drying.
Amber yellow
This is the typical color of certain wines made from dried grapes, of fortified wines and, in any case, of wines that are made from extremely ripe grapes.
Rosé wines
There is a broad range of shades for rosé wines: these depend on how long the must has been left in contact with the skins. Yellow-orange coloring indicates age, a negative characteristic for rosés, wines that stand out for their freshness and youthful fruity aromas.
Pale pink
This recalls the color of rose petals or of peach blossom.
Cherry-red
This is a fairly deep pink, which recalls the color of certain varieties of cherries.
“Claret”
More red than pink, but without the intensity of a red wine.
Onion skin
A deep pink, with highlights that tend towards orange.
Red wines
Unlike white wines, reds undergo a gradual decrease in the intensity of their color as they age. Purplish red is typical of younger wines, whereas older wines display definite orangey hints.
Purplish red
This is intense and tends towards violet: it is typical of young wines.
Ruby red
This is the most common color: a deep red reminiscent of rubies that is typical of wines that should be drunk relatively young. It in fact indicates the age at which such wines are at their best.
Garnet red
A color that tends towards blood red. It is the first sign of maturity in a wine: this shade indicates that the wine has been aged for at least a couple of years and has attained a good degree of maturation. Some wines display garnet nuances even in youth, as is the case with those made from Pinot Nero or Nebbiolo grapes.
Brick red
Its orange tones remind us of the color of bricks. This shade is the typical indicator of aging: it is that of the right stage of development for fine wines that reach their peak after a number of years, but a sign of decrepitude for those that do not have the structure to keep.
Print