Wine comes in a wide range of beautiful colors, from pale yellow to deep inky purple. One of the most iconic wine colors is the deep, rich red of a Spanish vino tinto. But what is this color called in English? Let’s take a look at the origins and characteristics of vino tinto to understand its vivid crimson hue.
What is Vino Tinto?
Vino tinto simply means “red wine” in Spanish. It is a catch-all term for red wines made in Spain from native grape varieties like Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Monastrell.
The top red wine producing regions in Spain include Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Priorat. Wines labeled as vino tinto can come from any of these regions or elsewhere in Spain.
Some characteristics associated with Spanish vino tinto are:
- Deep red color, often with purple hints
- Full body and alcohol content
- Savory flavors like tobacco, leather, and black pepper
- Red fruit flavors like cherry, plum, and raspberry
- Smooth, velvety tannins
As you can see, deep color is a defining trait of these Spanish red wines. But what exactly do we call this eye-catching red-purple shade in English?
Garnet
The color that best captures the rich, intense red tones of vino tinto is garnet. Just like the gemstone it’s named after, garnet is a vivid reddish-purple.
On the color wheel, garnet falls between ruby and burgundy. It’s considered a warm, saturated shade that evokes feelings of passion, energy, and boldness.
Here are some details about the garnet color:
- Hex code: #7B0A2E
- RGB values: R 123, G 10, B 46
- CMYK values: C 0, M 92, Y 63, K 52
Next time you take in the beautiful color of a Spanish vino tinto, you can accurately call it a rich garnet in English!
Vino Tinto Color Range
Keep in mind that vino tinto is not one uniform color. There is a range of different shades and intensities depending on the grape varietal, wine region, vintage, and winemaking techniques used.
Here are some of the specific colors vino tinto can display:
| Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Ruby | Pure red tones, like the gemstone ruby. Lighter and more vibrant than garnet. |
| Crimson | Slightly bluish-red tones. More saturated than ruby. |
| Garnet | Rich mix of red and purple. The quintessential vino tinto color. |
| Maroon | Dark, brownish red with more subtle purple tones compared to garnet. |
| Brick | Orangey, brownish red. Signifies oxidized red wines. |
A young Rioja reserva might be a vibrant ruby, while an aged Priorat could display shadowy garnet or maroon hues. Different styles and ages of vino tinto cover the entire range from bright to brooding.
Factors Affecting Color
Many factors influence the ultimate color that ends up in your glass of vino tinto. Here are some of the key points that affect red wine color:
Grape Variety
The grape variety has a huge impact on wine color. Thick-skinned grapes like Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec tend to produce deeply colored wines.
Thinner-skinned grapes like Pinot Noir and Gamay make lighter, more translucent reds. So a Tempranillo-based Rioja will typically display a darker garnet shade than a Pinot Noir from Burgundy.
Skin Contact
The length of time the grape juice stays in contact with the skins during fermentation also influences color. More skin contact results in more pigment extraction, yielding a more saturated, darker wine.
Softer, fruitier styles have shorter skin contact during fermentation. Big, bold reds often extend skin contact for weeks or months to maximize color and tannin extraction.
Oak Aging
Barrel aging also impacts color stability and intensity. New oak imparts tannins that help reinforce color and prevent fading over time. Wines aged for years in new oak tend to maintain very deep garnet hues.
In contrast, wines aged in neutral oak will slowly lose vibrant purple tones, shifting towards more brick red shades. Riojas classified as Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva illustrate the color evolution through progressive oak aging.
Age
As red wines age from year to year in the bottle, they gradually take on more brickish-brown hues as purplish notes fade. However, the very best vintages can retain traces of vibrant garnet even when decades old.
Young vino tinto is typically the most deeply pigmented, while mature examples soften towards more tawny shades of red-brown.
Tasting Vino Tinto Color
Now that you know the color taxonomy of vino tinto, how can you taste with color in mind? Here are some tips for analyzing the appearance when tasting Spanish red wines:
Set up Tasting Conditions
Use a clear, colorless wine glass to get the truest impression of color. White tablecloths or backgrounds help colors stand out. Bright, white light shows the most detail. Tasting in shadowy conditions masks the wine’s hue.
Tilt and Depth
First, tilt your glass away from you to observe the color along the edges, where it is thinnest. Then observe the color closer to the center, watching how depth and concentration change.
Nuances
Look across the entire span of the wine in your glass to notice any color variations. Are the edges more ruby but the center striking garnet? Do purple notes mix with red?
Intensity and Opacity
Determine if the color is pale and translucent or deeply saturated and opaque. More intense color typically correlates to fuller body and flavor impact.
Brightness
Note clarity and brightness. Dull, murky color may indicate faults. Clear, brilliant color suggests a fresh, youthful wine.
Age
While it takes tasting experience to judge age by color, lighter brickish edges can signify an older vino tinto.
Conclusion
When you take time to admire and analyze the gorgeous garnet hues of Spanish vino tinto, you enrich the tasting experience. You gain insight into the wine’s character and can make reasonable guesses about its origin, grape, and age simply from admiring its beautiful color in your glass.
Color is just the first step in tasting – but for vino tinto it provides a vital glimpse into the wine’s identity. Next time you open a bottle of Spanish red, let your senses explore the vivid visual display as well as the aromas, flavors, and textures of your glass of liquid garnet.
