Would you like another glass of wine?

Every year on March 17, it's St. Patrick's Day, a grand celebration of Ireland's patron saint. Even though wine isn’t the traditional drink for this holiday, we’ve decided to embrace the color green, emblematic of Ireland, for this day. We’ve also noticed several connections between wine and the color green. Here they are.

1) Why are some wine bottles green? Just like our eyes, wine is highly sensitive to light. To protect it from sunlight, wine is stored in green glass bottles, which are very effective at filtering light. This feature is primarily found with red wines, although their tannins provide natural protection. On the other hand, white and rosé wines, which lack tannins, are mostly presented in clear bottles without any tint. The reason? Winemakers often prefer that you can see the color of their wine. After all, it’s a bit disappointing (and even discouraging) not to see the color of a wine when you’re about to buy or taste it! However, some white wine bottles are green, particularly for Alsace wines.

2) Why is green “harvested out” during the grape harvest? For winemakers, crafting a wine is akin to a ritual with many steps, the first being the harvest, or picking of the grapes. After picking, it’s time for fermentation (the conversion of grape juice into alcohol via sugar). But in some cases, a preliminary sorting is necessary. This "de-stemming" or "debudding," as it’s called in winemaking jargon, involves removing the “green” parts of the grape bunch, i.e., the stems, to avoid giving the wine a bitter and herbaceous taste. This process is mostly used in the making of red wines by winemakers who aim to produce round and fruity wines. Others believe that keeping the stems will add more complexity and freshness to their wine. Note that the more mature the grapes are, the less detrimental the presence of green parts will be to the wine. These factors usually vary based on vintages and the climatic conditions the vineyards experience throughout the year.

3) What should you infer from a white wine with greenish reflections? When examining the color of a white wine, it’s not uncommon to see slight greenish reflections. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean the wine is spoiled. You won’t find any unpleasant surprises in the taste! However, like a fruit, green hints suggest a lack of maturity. It could also be due to the presence of vegetal elements in the wine, indicating a process without de-stemming. On the nose, white wines with greenish reflections often reveal floral and vegetal aromas, as well as citrus or green apple notes. On the palate, they present marked acidity. Greenish reflections are often found in white wines made from grape varieties such as Sauvignon (Loire, Bordeaux, Languedoc) and Sémillon (Bordeaux, South-West). If the wine is meant to age, its yellow color will intensify over time, and the greenish reflections will fade.

DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER WINE AND GREEN-RELATED ANECDOTES? FEEL FREE TO SHARE THEM WITH US!

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FAQ - A glass of wine

Why are some wine bottles green?

Green tinted glass filters sunlight and protects the wine, especially reds, which stay light sensitive despite their tannins. White and rosé wines are more often bottled in clear glass so you can see their color, but some remain green, particularly in Alsace.

What is de-stemming during the grape harvest?

It means removing the vegetal part of the bunch, the stems, before fermentation. It is mostly used for round, fruity red wines to avoid a bitter, herbaceous taste. Some winegrowers keep the stems instead, to add complexity and freshness.

Are greenish reflections in a white wine a fault?

No, they do not mean the wine is spoiled. Like with fruit, green hints suggest a certain youth, or the presence of vegetal elements linked to winemaking without de-stemming.

Which grape varieties give white wines with greenish reflections?

These reflections are often seen on whites made from Sauvignon (Loire, Bordeaux, Languedoc) and Sémillon (Bordeaux, South-West). On the nose they reveal floral, citrus and green apple notes, with marked acidity on the palate.