Three Colors of Wine from Sangiovese

Sangiovese Bianco, Sangiovese Rosato, Sangiovese Rosso

Wine isn't just a drink; it's also about passion, tradition, and culture, with roots that go way back in human history. Typically, wine is made from grapes that are suitable for either white or red wine.

However, the term 'Blanc de noirs' – which translates to 'white from black' – tells us that white wine can also be made from red grapes. You often come across this term and method, for example, when making Champagne.

Here, I want to give you a peek into how red wine, rosé, and even white wine are made from red grapes, like Sangiovese. This variety of wines from a single grape type offers an impressive range of taste profiles that can appeal to your senses in different ways.

The three colors of Sangiovese: bianco, rosato, rosso

Making Red Wine

Red wine from Sangiovese, like Chianti Classico, is definitely the most famous and sought-after version of this grape. With its signature flavors of ripe cherries, black berries, spices, and herbs, it really captures the heart of Tuscan wine tradition. Making red wine is a complex process that needs careful handiwork and expertise.

Production kicks off with harvesting fully ripe grapes, which are usually sweet and packed with color, tannins, and aromas. Then, the grapes are destemmed, meaning the stems are removed, leaving just the berries. The resulting mix of juice, skins, and seeds is called 'must'.

The must is then left to rest for a longer period to get the maximum amount of color and aromas. After that, alcoholic fermentation happens, followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in wooden barrels to give the wine more depth and complexity. The result is a Chianti Classico with amazing structure and elegance, truly capturing the authenticity and taste of Tuscany.

During alcoholic fermentation, natural yeasts turn the sugar in grape juice into alcohol. While this is happening, the grape juice (must) stays in contact with the grape skins. This gives the wine its classic red color and releases tannins, which give red wine its structure and body. Alcoholic fermentation usually takes two to three weeks. After that, the young wine is pressed, separating the juice from the skins, seeds, and other solids.

Next up is the second fermentation phase, called malolactic fermentation. This is where the tart malic acid (which isn't so easy on our tummies) gets turned into milder lactic acid, making the wine taste softer and rounder. Finally, the wine is clarified, filtered, and put into barrels to age before it's bottled.

A short time on the skins is super important for Sangiovese Rosé.

Making Rosé Wine

Rosé wines bring together qualities from both red and white wines, making them a really interesting type of wine. In Italian, Rosé is called Rosato.

Rosato made from Sangiovese grapes is also known as Blush or Cerasuolo. It stands out with its bright color and fruity aromas. This wine can be made in a few different ways, usually by either the Saignée method or direct pressing.

Saignée

With the Saignée method, winemaking starts pretty much like making red wine. The grape juice stays in contact with the skins for just a few hours, picking up color and flavors, but not as intensely as it would for red wine.

Afterwards, some of the grape juice is drained off, without any solids. Then, it's fermented at a cool temperature to keep those fresh and light flavors.

The Saignée method is a popular way to make Rosé wines with more depth and complexity, because the grape juice ends up with a higher concentration of color, flavors, and tannins. The result is Rosés with a bolder character and a more structured feel, which are perfect with all sorts of dishes.

Direct Pressing

Grapes for this method are often harvested earlier than for red wines, to get more fruity flavors and a fresher acidity. Right after harvesting, the grapes are destemmed, and the juice is left to sit for one to three hours to pull out color and flavors. Then, the juice is pressed, and the pure liquid goes into alcoholic fermentation.

No matter how it's made, Rosé wine from Sangiovese grapes is a refreshing and lively taste experience. With its notes of raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon, plus its lively acidity, Sangiovese Rosé is a perfect partner for summer meals and get-togethers.

Sangiovese Bianco is a Blanc de Noir made from Sangiovese grapes.

Making White Wine from Red Grapes

Yep, you read that right – it's actually possible to make white wine from red grapes! The trick is to quickly separate the juice from the skins. This method is called "Blanc de Noirs" (which means "white from blacks") and it's super popular for making Champagne.

Blanc de Noirs is an amazing example of how versatile Sangiovese can be. This white wine is made from dark Sangiovese grapes, which are harvested earlier than they would be for red wine and immediately pressed gently to avoid any contact with the skins. This keeps the juice almost colorless. Then, it's fermented just like a white wine. This whole process needs careful handling to make sure the wine keeps its freshness, elegance, and delicate flavors.

This wine often has a certain structure and complexity, thanks to the red grape characteristics, but without the red color. Blanc de Noirs made from Sangiovese grapes has an almost colorless to slightly pink hue and offers a refreshing taste experience with notes of pear, citrus, flowers, and herbs.

Sangiovese Bianco is a wonderful aperitif wine and food companion.

Winemaking is a fascinating process that includes both traditional and innovative methods. Even though all three wine types can be made from the same grapes, the different techniques lead to amazingly different results.

The Sangiovese grape variety also shows off its remarkable versatility and adaptability when it comes to creating wines in different colors and styles.

Whether white, rosé, or red, every Sangiovese wine offers unique characteristics and delightful moments just waiting to be discovered. The variety in your wine glass reflects the depth and breadth of winemaking craftsmanship, offering wine lovers an endless journey of discovery.