Wine is wine, most people I know like to say. We have so many types of wine mostly falling under the category of either white wine or red wine.
If you are a wine lover, at one point you must have asked yourself what the difference is between these two types of wine.
Red wine and white wine differ primarily in their production process, grape varieties, color, taste, and ideal serving temperatures.
Red wine is made from red or black grape varieties, where the skin, seeds, and sometimes stems are included during fermentation.
On the other hand, White wine is primarily made from green or yellow grape varieties, with the skin, seeds, and stems usually removed early in the fermentation process.
I guess that right there makes me understand why I am a huge lover of the red wine more than I am of white wine.
Because Red wine undergoes fermentation with the grape skins and often undergoes longer aging in contact with the grape solids: it tends to have bolder, complex flavors, with notes ranging from fruity to earthy, and can be tannic and have a fuller body.
White wine involves separating the grape juice from the skins and fermenting the clear juice without the grape solids, resulting in a crisper, lighter taste with flavors ranging from crisp and citrusy to floral and fruity.
How should one serve their wine, in order to preserve it’s intended taste?
Red wines are typically served at slightly warmer temperatures (around 55-65°F or 13-18°C) to enhance their flavors and aromas.
White wines are served chilled (around 45-55°F or 7-13°C) to preserve their freshness and enhance their crispness.
I know it’s abit tempting, but please don’t put your red wine in the fridge (sic).
Another thing to note is that these wines have certain foods that they go well with.
For instance, Red wine often pairs well with red meats, rich sauces, and hearty dishes due to its bold flavors and tannins.
White wine pairs well with seafood, poultry, light sauces, and salads, complementing their lighter and refreshing taste.
Understanding these differences can help in choosing the right wine for a meal or occasion based on individual taste preferences and the desired flavor profile.
Even though the wine market in Kenya has it’s own niche, most Kenyans (to be more specific, the ones I interact with) aren’t very diverse in their choices of wines. Even most alcohol establishments will only stock two or three different brands. Sijui four cousins, Namaqua, fourth Street and a few others that I’m sure you know all too well.
I would like to introduce you to a few brands that I recently had the chance of sampling.
- Frontera cabernet sauvignon is described as a deep, garnet-red-wine, rich with aromas of cherries, blackberries and hints of pepper black plums, toast and vanilla. It contains 12% ABV. If you are a fan of quantity, then this is the bottle for you.
This wine doesn’t have any detectable sweetness( is actually dry) so if you are a lover of sweet wine, this might be overpowering for you.
2. Nero Nobile Al Espresso is a Germany, sweet red wine. Now, if you love really sweet wines, then this is the wine for you. It combines the fruity aroma of red grapes with fine turning the enjoyment into an intense explosion of flavor. You can taste the fine chocolate and coffee and the aroma is heavenly. The Nero wine contains 10% ABV.
3. Romagna sangiovese is an Italian wine with 13.5% ABV. This one was interesting, I loved it, went to get more at a later date but I’ve never been lucky to get another one. It’s a semi dry wine with very intense flavor. I’ve been searching for this exact wine for a while now, all in vain.
4. Carmela sparkling wine is a Spanish wine classified as sparkling wine or white wine. It contains 8%ABV(alcohol by volume). It has a distinct taste and I would highly recommend if one has an event but is looking for a cheaper “champagne” option.
5. This is by far, my most favourite wine. A friend gifted me this once and I have never looked back. I can not say I am an expert in wines, but with the small small experience I have had here and there, I can say that this wine is truly exquisite. It is however not that cheap. (Cheap in this case is relative hehe, but considering it’s only available in a 375ml bottle and goes for 5k….then, well.) It contains 12.5% ABV.
I wish they had bigger bottles for this, but it is what it is. Simonsig Vin de Liza wine is a bright shining gold wine whose rich honeyed fruit aromas drift to the nose immediately you open it. It contains dried apricots, baked apples and sundried raisins. The palate is silky smooth, delicious earthy, wet river stone minerality which keeps the sweetness well balanced.Simonsig Vin de Liza wine is a beautiful wine by all standards.
6. Like I mentioned up there, I am not a huge fan of white wine…but not to say I don’t love them. Robertson is a good wine, but if you are looking for that high, you will not get it here.
The Roberson Natural Sweet White is a South African wine classified as sweet white wine and belongs to the Robertson family. It contains 8% ABV and is great for meals.
If there is any great wine that you know of, share it with us in the comment section.
