Your Guide to the Types of Wine and What They Mean

Fri, Jan 12, 24

Do you always find yourself gravitating towards a red wine? Or do you usually prefer an orange wine if it’s on the list? There are plenty of choices when it comes to wine, all representing varying flavor profiles, personalities, and production methods. Read further to find out about the different types of wine.

If you’d like to learn more about wine and purchase a bottle that matches your taste preferences, visit our fine wine store!

White Wine

White wine's intriguing characteristic is that it’s almost colorless, which stems from the choice of grape varieties. White grapes have thin skins that contain limited pigments compared to red grapes. White wine production typically focuses on extracting grape juice, minimizing color transfer. This attribute has significant flavor implications, with many appreciating white wines lighter, refreshing nature, often featuring delicate floral or fruity notes and a spectrum of profiles ranging from dry to sweet.

Red Wine

Most red wines derive their color from dark grapes, rich in anthocyanin pigment. This compound, also found in various fruits and veggies, imparts red, purple, or blue tints to red wine. The duration of grape skin contact with the juice influences the wine's hue, with lighter-bodied reds appearing paler and heavier ones darker.

Additionally, the choice of oak barrels can impact color. Wines aged in new oak barrels tend to display a reddish tint, while those in older barrels lean toward a browner shade. However, it's crucial to remember that enjoying red wine should center on its flavor, not just its appearance.

Rose Wine

Rose wine is widely adored, spanning a spectrum from pale pink to rich ruby. The hue reflects how long the grape skins mingle with the juice: shorter for lighter shades, longer for deeper ones. Variations emerge based on grape variety and winemaking techniques. Yet, regardless of color, rose maintains its reputation for being light and refreshing, perfect for summer picnics or elegant evening gatherings.

Green Wine

Green wine, despite its name, isn't green; the tint stems from chlorophyll molecules present in grape skins, a by-product of sunlight-to-energy conversion. Typically filtered out during winemaking, a green hue indicates youth. With aging, wines lose chlorophyll and shift to browner tones. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes are commonly used for green wines due to their high acidity, yielding tart or complex flavors.

Orage Wine

Orange wine, a variety of white wine, differs in its production method, which involves prolonged skin contact, a technique typically reserved for red wines. Here, grape skins stay in contact with the juice for several months, resulting in a deeper color and a more robust flavor profile than conventional white wines. Though made from various grapes, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are frequently chosen for orange wine production.

Visit Our Fine Wine Store in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina!

When you visit Rollers Wine & Spirits in Hilton Head Island, our staff will walk you through our available selection of wines and recommend the best wines that will suit your taste. Sign up for a tasting at our fine wine store today!

By Paige Lorberbaum