Did you know that the grapes red wines are made from actually have colorless juice? It is the black skin of the grapes being mixed with the juice during the pressing of the grapes that produces the reddish- purple color the beverage is known for.
Another feature of the grape skins that heavily influences red wine is the amount of Tannins found in the skin of each grape. Tannins is responsible for the red wine’s bitterness and also for the mouth- drying quality red wines are known for. Tannins in red wine acts as a preservative which gives red wine with high tannins the ability to be aged for many years. Much longer than white wines or red wines with lower tannins.
Aging is performed to add flavors and aromas to wine. These red wines are aged in new oak barrels which imbue them with hints of sweet baking spice, cocoa, chocolate, and vanilla.
The flavor and aroma of red wine depend heavily on the aging method and grape varieties of the beverage. Some of the fruit flavors you can find in red wines include: red fruit, black fruit, and blue fruit. The climate where the wine is aged also has an effect on the flavor of the wine with wine produced in warmer climates found to have riper, jammier fruit qualities.
Some examples of red wine are Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir. These wines boost ABVs on the higher side of the range considering their sizable amount of Tannins, from 11.5% to 15%.
If you are interested in a more indepth analysis of each of these wines and more, please visit our Cork & Cask Class page! You can also visit us in store for a personalized recommendation from our vast inventory of wines and spirits.
Located in Salem, South Carolina since 2002.