Rose wine is preferred by many people partly because of the health benefits that it offers. It also complements light meals really well. Among the many anti-aging, antioxidant chemicals found in grapes, reservatrol is the most potent. The shade varieties of rose wines differ because the processing of the grape juice also varies. The grape skins have something to do with the color, and some rose wines are paler than others. Because of this, rose wines are characteristically milder than reds, since the wine’s color also affects its tannin levels. Wines with more tannins have stronger flavor and more body, a characteristic that red wines are often known for.
Grape juice is processed in several ways to produce rose wines. Most winemaker prefer the method of separating the grape skins from the juice prior to bottling. Through this process, the crushed grapes are left undisturbed on a vat for not more than three days before the must (the grape mush) is pressed and the skins are taken out. Champagne rose is less intense because the astringent property of the skins doesn’t blend in thoroughly enough to create the bold flavors particular to red wine. The skin is sometimes removed a lot earlier than the three-day interval so the winemaker can control the color of the juice. Some even take out the skins overnight, after the must has thoroughly settled.
There’s also a process called ‘bleeding the vats’, an indirect method of producing rose wines or champagnes. If the must is left to ferment longer in the vats, the juice eventually produces red wine, and the winemaker can even add more tannins if the juice is drained from the vat earlier. The red wine is much stronger because of this, and the juice may be fermented on its own to produce rose wines. Red wine may also be blended into white wine to create blush or rose wines. This method often intends to tint the wine with a dash of red, resulting in pale pink colors. Champagne rose is rarely produced in this way. These processes often use red or deep purple grapes, but white grapes may also be throw into the must mix. Rose wines and champagnes are usually sweet, but varieties are also dry depending on the processing methods used by the winemaker. They’re milder than red wines either way, and they offer a friendlier experience for people who just need a bubbly beverage for sampling or food pairing.
