What does the color of wine tell us about the grape variety and flavor? Can you tell the difference between Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon just by holding it up to the light? We walk through the various shades of reds, whites and rosés, with recommended bottlings that best represent each style and hue.
So grab a glass and get ready to throw some shade.
Red
Gamay | Pale Ruby
The light color of Gamay indicates that it will be bright and refreshing. Look for bursts of bright red fruit. From the French home of Gamay in Beaujolais, try Domaine de la Combe au Loup 2015 for its refreshing acidity and a juicy finish.
Pinot Noir | Ruby
Ruby in color, Pinot Noir is packed with red fruits and gentle tannins. Expect a refreshing red that will hold up to food. Sandler’s 2015 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noiremphasizes the variety’s bright fruit characters and brings out herbaceous notes.
Tempranillo | Garnet
This medium-toned variety pairs well with different foods and skews brick in color. Tart red fruit takes the lead, supported by mild tannins and notes of leather and tobacco. The Bodegas Faustino 2011 Faustino V Reserva showcases red berries and has a long mocha finish.
Touriga Nacional | Deep Purple
Nearly opaque, this inky red from Portugal is famous for its intense tannins. Expect bold, black fruits along with dark cocoa. Global Wines’s 2011 Casa de Santar Vinha dos Amores Touriga Nacional from the Dão is well concentrated with spice and black plum.
Cabernet Sauvignon | Deep Ruby
A darker-hued variety, Cabernet Sauvignon will express darker fruits like blackberry and cassis, and the color hints at its spicy smoky, more tannic notes. Betz Family’s 2014 Père de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon expresses the intensity of this variety.
Rosé
Merlot | Pale Blush
Light on color and palate, Croteaux’s 2016 Merlot 181 Sauvage Rosé consists entirely of Merlot and will surprise people who (still) think they don’t like the grape. A flinty nose gives way to tea leaves and minerals on a palate that’s otherwise shy of fruit.
Syrah | Blush
Sourced from a vineyard dedicated to rosé production, Charles & Charles 2016 Roséis a pale flamingo-hued rosé is driven by Syrah, but incorporates smaller proportions of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault.
Syrah–Cinsault–Grenache | Light Salmon
In the Languedoc, a region defined by Mistral winds and a Mediterranean climate, this Syrah-driven (40 percent) Hecht & Bannier 2016 Rosé includes Cinsault and Grenache. It combines freshness, fruit and tones of garrigue, the savory herbal brush that’s a calling card of the region.
Tempranillo | Salmon
Thank the islands’ unique volcanic terroir and bracing winds for Azores Wine Company 2016 Rosé Vulcânico’s slightly saline flavor profile. It’s an equal blend of Saborinho, Agronómica, Aragonês (Tempranillo) and Touriga Nacional.
Petite Verdot | Deep Salmon
The Rustenberg 2016 Petit Verdot Rosé from South Africa is deep hued, concentrated and full flavored. What you get on the nose, you also get on the palate: bright red fruits (strawberry, cranberry and cherry).
By: Wine Enthusiast
***Grabbed from: http://www.winemag.com/2017/05/11/winesbycolor/