Is Red Wine Stronger Than White Wine?

As you begin your journey into the world of wine, you might have many questions. One of the most common is whether red wine or white wine is the most powerful.

The strength of the wine doesn’t have anything to do with the color. Instead, it relies on the alcohol content in the wines themselves. 

Understanding Alcohol Content

Wine is made from grapes. Some grapes have a higher concentration of sugar than others. The riper the grapes, the higher the sugar content; thus, during the process of fermentation, more of the sugar will be converted into alcohol 

To further increase the alcohol content, grapes used to make red wine are usually harvested much later, increasing the amount of sugar.

In the past, grapes for red wine were usually harvested later, and thus wines frequently had a higher concentration of alcohol. 

Things have changed somewhat, though. Today, most wine drinkers prefer wines with less alcohol. Thus, today, grapes are harvested earlier to make wine that is more delicate, gentle, and appreciated by a broader segment of the population. Lighter wines also tend to be paired better with a wide range of food.

How Much Alcohol Is In Your Wine?

The alcohol content in wine ranges from as low as 5.5% to a high of 23% ABV. In North America, all wines have a label that states the amount of alcohol. As a result, it’s pretty easy to tell if you’re getting a wine with higher alcohol content. 

So, is red wine stronger than white wine? Not really. While red wines, in general, tend to be stronger than whites, there are more than a few exceptions to that rule.

PACIFIC RIM AND COMPANY is located in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Rim and Company representatives are available to answer your wine questions and offer selections that are sure to please your palette with an online presence.