There are some big differences between white wine and red wine that may influence your preference. For starters, they’re made using different colored grapes - red wine uses only red grapes while white wines use primarily white, and sometimes red or pinkish-gray grapes. But there are also key differences in the fermentation process that impact the flavor. Red wine is produced from grapes whose skin remains on during fermentation, while white wine is produced from grapes whose skin is removed before fermentation. They are also aged in different ways, with white wines maturing in steel or iron vats while red wine is often aged in oak barrels. The container a wine ages in affects the airflow and the acidity of the wine. The result is that red wines are smoother, bolder and more complex, while white wines often turn out a crisper, a bit sweeter, and with higher acidity.Wine also contains tannins, which are part of the wine-drinking experience. Tannins are responsible for the drying sensation that you feel on the back of your tongue when you drink wine. If you enjoy that experience you may be more inclined toward red wines which are higher in tannins. If you don’t like it, or have tannin sensitivity, you may prefer white wines.
There’s also the berry vs citrus preference to consider. Red wines tend to have stronger notes of berries from raspberries, cherries, and strawberries, on the lighter side, to blueberries, blackberries, and black currants. The flavors in white wines use more citrus, apple, peach, and other light fruit flavors with aromatic floral hints. Red wine is also where you’ll get those deep earthy notes and undertones of chocolate, wood, tobacco and spices.Your feelings about any one of these factors might be the reason you prefer for one over the other. But if you’re looking for a deeper meaning to your inclination, your personality may also influence your choice. Based on a survey conducted by OnePoll for Coravin in May 2019, there are distinct personality traits between those who drink red wine and those who prefer white. Here’s what they found: