Red Wine, White Wine, What's the Difference?

The color of a wine is pretty much the only thing all wine authorities can agree on. It gives you some hint of how the wine will taste (though not as much as its bouquet or smell will) and a vague idea of what to serve it with. The color also helps you tell how old the wine is. As wine ages, it gets browner, so red wine gets rustier and white wine becomes more golden.

What you might not know is that a wine isn't red or white because of the grape but because of whether the skins are included. Red wine is red because the skins are included in the casks when it ferments. White wine lacks these, so it is less dyed. This is also one reason red wine tastes different - the stems and skins and seeds contain tannins, which is what give red wine its bitter, tea-like flavor. If a deep red grape is made into white wine, it may still give the wine a certain amount of color. These are called rosé wines.

When it comes to presentation, it's actually simpler than you'd think. The basic rule of thumb is that white wine is served chilled, but warmer than you'd think, in a skinny glass. Conversely, red wine is served about room temperature, but actually a little cooler than that, in a rounder glass.