Red Wines Vs. White Wines
Most of us know that wine comes from aged grapes. Have you ever wondered how the grape ages properly? If you didn’t know, red wines need more time to age than white wines. The process of aging begins right when the grapes are picked, crushed and pressed. The grapes are put into an oak or steel barrel. Some winemakers add oak chips to the steel vats to add the flavor. During the aging process acid, tannins and sugar begin to work together. The more tannin in a grape means the wine is able to age for longer periods. Temperature, light conditions, and alcohol complete the aging. Wines age faster with warmer temperatures. Because of this, winemakers try to maintain a cool 55-65 degree Fahrenheit temperature in a dark area. A huge influx of temperature is detrimental to a good wine. So why are red wines aged more than whites? All grapes are white inside, which means that red wines need to allow the exterior skin to mix with the interior when being crushed to give it the red color. This mix contains tannins, which helps in the aging process. Tannins also come from the oak sides of the barrel. Compounds within these, known as phenolics, allows the wine to age longer and keeps the wine from oxidizing. The red wine is able to age longer and develop a bold and full flavored taste.
White wines are kind of the same but at lower levels. This is because the inside of the grape is what winemakers use and by not using as much as the exterior skin. Because of this, less tannin is present. This results in a shorter aging process. Aging white wines seem to make the wine taste flat and loses its aromatic greatness.
So save that special red wine, but be sure to serve that white wine within 2-3 years at most. Remember, wine is meant to be enjoyed and sitting on bottles for too long may result in the bottle going bad.
Once the wines go through the process, the wine is bottled and stored in wine cellars to finish the aging process. Most wines are ready to drink when purchased. The reason is because nobody expects to plan dinner for a special party two to three years in advance. How many people own a wine cellar to complete the aging process of their favorite wines?
Wine is also used in religious ceremonies in multiple cultures. The bible mentions wine close to 200 times. “Forsake not an old friend, for the new is not comparable to him. A new friend is as new wine: when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure.” Ecclesiastes 9:10.
“Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make men drunk. Wine used with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.” Ecclesiastes 31:35-36.
“Drink no longer water but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake.” Timothy 5:23.
Also the health effects of wine are a subject that can take up pages and pages of this website. In the United States, a boom in red wines began when 60 Minutes reported that moderate red wine might help protect against certain cancers and heart disease. It can also help with cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Regular consumption of 1-2 drinks a day does reduce mortality, due to 10-40% lower risk of heart disease for people over 35. This is because high amounts of antioxidants found in the grapes skin.