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The article says whites have their skins removed... Why are the skins of white grapes removed before fermentation? Are there whites that don't have the skins r

by throw7 4y ago

The article says whites have their skins removed... Why are the skins of white grapes removed before fermentation? Are there whites that don't have the skins removed?

makrelmad 4y ago
Fermenting white grapes with their skins is how orange wine is made. The skins on white grapes actually impart a very different experience to the wine. Do remember that it's a spectrum; winemakers can still have some degree of skin contact in a white wine, so it could also fall outside either of the two categories.
- throw7 4y ago
  Ah. I'd never heard of orange wines. It looks popular/originating in eastern europe. I will have to try them.
  - nerdponx 4y ago
    Orange wines are also often "natural" wines, using entirely wild yeast and no added preservatives. Very much worth getting some, and it's not even that expensive. Apparently it's traditional in Georgia (the country, not the US state) and that's also cool because I otherwise never get to interact with anything from that part of the world.
jfengel 4y ago
Yes, some "blanc de blancs", including some champagnes. It adds tannins, which are usually added by aging in oak instead. I don't know why the article would say it never happens, but it's not usual.
tgamma 4y ago
You can actually vinify red grapes into white wine by separating the pomace from the must early enough after pressing the grapes. The red pigments are located in the skins of the grapes, so if you do this early, they won’t tranfer into the juice. A white wine made in this fashion is called blanc de noirs („white from blacks“). If you let must macerate without removing the pomace the red color and a lot of tannins will transfer over and you get red wine. As you usually don’t want a lot of tannins in white wine you separate the pomace from the must as well, even if you use white grapes (but of course you could let it macerate on the skins, but then you end up with orange wine). White wine made from white grapes without maceration on the skins is called blanc de blancs.

by throw7 4y ago

The article says whites have their skins removed... Why are the skins of white grapes removed before fermentation? Are there whites that don't have the skins removed?

makrelmad 4y ago

Fermenting white grapes with their skins is how orange wine is made. The skins on white grapes actually impart a very different experience to the wine. Do remember that it's a spectrum; winemakers can still have some degree of skin contact in a white wine, so it could also fall outside either of the two categories.

throw7 4y ago
Ah. I'd never heard of orange wines. It looks popular/originating in eastern europe. I will have to try them.
- nerdponx 4y ago
  Orange wines are also often "natural" wines, using entirely wild yeast and no added preservatives. Very much worth getting some, and it's not even that expensive. Apparently it's traditional in Georgia (the country, not the US state) and that's also cool because I otherwise never get to interact with anything from that part of the world.

jfengel 4y ago

Yes, some "blanc de blancs", including some champagnes. It adds tannins, which are usually added by aging in oak instead. I don't know why the article would say it never happens, but it's not usual.

tgamma 4y ago

You can actually vinify red grapes into white wine by separating the pomace from the must early enough after pressing the grapes. The red pigments are located in the skins of the grapes, so if you do this early, they won’t tranfer into the juice. A white wine made in this fashion is called blanc de noirs („white from blacks“). If you let must macerate without removing the pomace the red color and a lot of tannins will transfer over and you get red wine. As you usually don’t want a lot of tannins in white wine you separate the pomace from the must as well, even if you use white grapes (but of course you could let it macerate on the skins, but then you end up with orange wine). White wine made from white grapes without maceration on the skins is called blanc de blancs.