# Why is my 'WHITE Merlot' RED? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726 "2003-06-27T09:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/1 "2003-06-27T09:21:17Z")
I drink red/purple wine twice a week for its supposed health benefits. And I like White Merlot, because it can be served at room temperature. But there is one thing I can’t figure out. Why is it that every time I buy **“White”** Merlot, it’s **red**? (I usually buy the somewhat cheaper _Gallo_ brand, for what it’s worth.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tarantula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e274bd/32.png) [@Tarantula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarantula)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/2 "2003-06-27T09:27:58Z")
Merlot is a red grape. Hence, Merlot is a red wine. White Merlot is simply a sub-type of red Merlot wine. Somewhat confusing, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Tarantula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e274bd/32.png) [@Tarantula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarantula)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/3 "2003-06-27T09:31:34Z")
Further to the above, from what I recall, White Merlot is not \* as red\* as say a full Merlot or a Chianti. IIRC the reason that it is “white” is because a portion of the grapes go directly to press without crushing the skins - hence less colour is extracted. This leaves a lighter colour wine - but still red… Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/4 "2003-06-27T10:38:34Z")
**Tarantula** ’s post, whilst correct, might be a bit misleading. The red color in _most_ red wines comes from the skins. But it’s entirely possible (and quite common) to make white wines from red grapes. Pinot grapes are red, but champagne style white wines are commonly made from Pinot grapes. It would be possible to make a true “white” merlot, by not including any skin. The makers of your wine have chosen to include some skin, thus giving a "blush’ color. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/5 "2003-06-27T10:41:10Z")
It’s worth noting that some grapes, e.g. Alicante, have red _flesh_, not just red skins, and so you can make red wine from them without using the skins. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/6 "2003-06-27T10:49:38Z")
White merlot is white for the same reason that white zinfandel is white. They’re both blush wines made from a grape you can also get a red wine from. It isn’t really red, it’s pink, yes? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/7 "2003-06-27T11:23:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FisherQueen \* > \*\*It isn’t really red, it’s pink, yes? \*\* [It looks like this](http://www.abarbanel.com/wines/white_merlot.html) (although there’s some variation from one producer to the next). ---
**Author:** ![Tarantula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e274bd/32.png) [@Tarantula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarantula)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/8 "2003-06-27T11:24:00Z")
That is right - it’s called “Rose” - with an acute accent on the “e”… ---
**Author:** ![pipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipper)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/9 "2003-06-27T12:57:25Z")
And to add just a bit more to Desmostylus’ point, the pigments in the grape skins are alcohol soluble, but not water soluble. This means that to achieve a ‘standard’ red wine, the skins must be left in during at least part of the fermentation process. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-white-merlot-red/184726/10 "2003-06-28T02:02:09Z")
If this is any help to you at all, the sommelier at my favorite restaurant uses the term “perty pink giggle juice.”