I am not a red wine lover. But, I read a lot about the benefits of red wine, that are apparently not present in the whites I like. I do enjoy White Zin. Is this considered a "red" wine with the same attributes or not? I also want to try white Merlot, but have the same questions. Than you for your response.
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Your question raises several interesting and very different issues. Zinfandel and Merlot are both red grapes capable of yielding true, fully red wines, of course. It is also common around the world to use these grapes and countless others to make rosé wines - in other words, lightly tinted iterations, the same as so-called blush wines. We could call these types "not completely red" or "more white than red" if you like. It is even possible and common practice to make white sparkling wine, including Champagne, from red-skinned grapes such as Pinot Noir, by not allowing the clear juice to stay in contact with the color-imparting skins. In the end, whether a wine is "red" or not can be decided by the color in the glass, so White Zin, which is usually a very pale pink, is not a true red wine. As for the possible benefits, I am not in a position to recommend drinking wine for health reasons (although some doctors do, mostly off the record). It is argued that the chemical compounds which are found largely in the skins of dark grapes - exactly where the coloring matter is as well with nearly all varieties - may provide anti-oxidants and also resveratrol in some cases. We also know that consuming alcohol in excess has many proven liabilities. I encourage you to research the question of benefits and decide for yourself if you find the evidence convincing. I know for myself that I drink wine because I love the taste - any health benefits are a bonus!
