No, I didn’t drunk…not yet, it’s too early ! Then, I can say with clarity that we can produce white wine with red grapes. You don’t believe me ? Put down your glass of wine and read carefully.

Just a few days ago, in a restaurant, on a table close to me:

“The white wine can be produce with red grapes !
-Pfff ! What nonsense ! And why not whisky with cauliflower !
-You don’t trust me ?
-No !
-Whatever, you only know drink and no taste !
- That’s wrong ! Yesterday night, I TASTED, SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRR, an excellent Pommard 1999 from Bordeaux !
– ” (Editor’s note: Pommard is a red wine from Burgundy)

In front of the sheepish face of the guy, I tought: “WRITE AN ARTICLE !” That will avoid some nervous breakdown and, may be, to save others Pommard !!!

So, let us come back to the topic. Many people think that the colour of wine comes from the juice. WRONG ! Why ? 2 reasons:

- the majority of grapes, even red, has white juice (only some varieties has a red juice like…we will do a “Going for gold” at the end of the article… )

- And the colour of the wine is achieved by the contact between the skinof the grape and its juice, during the fermentation. Then, if we take off the red skin of the grape, only remains the white juice, to make…WHITE wine !

In a nutshell, to make white wine with red grapes, you just have to whack them ! QED ! No, still vague !?!

So, this is a concrete exemple: the Champagne Blanc de Noir (“White of Black”). This denomination means that this WHITE champagne (left) can be only produce with red varieties of grapes, mainly Pinot Meunier (middle) and Pinot Noir (right). 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s all, not so difficult ! But well, you read until here ! So, as promised, time to “Going for gold”:

Which grapes are red with red juice ?

Answer: leave your comments !!!

Now, I can drink ! And you, save pommards and others, because like Raymond DAMBLY told, in his book “The wine in 20 lessons”: “Yo sample is [...] the art of not to drink stupid.” Cheers !