Food
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Makes Pink Champagne Pink?

Garry Crystal
Garry Crystal

In the past, pink champagne has often been considered inferior to the white variety. However, pink champagne, or rose, has been going through something of a revival in the past few years. If white champagne is seen as a celebratory drink, then pink champagne is sometimes seen as a celebration of romance. Turning white champagne into pink comes down to one crucial part of the winemaking process.

There are only two ways that pink champagne becomes pink. One method is to add red wine to the white wine. This is the slightly easier method, and the depth of color of the red wine is up to the winemaker's preference. It can vary from a slight pinkish color to a dark red. The red wine used in the mix should be from the same area as the original white champagne.

Red wine can be added to white wine to make pink champagne.
Red wine can be added to white wine to make pink champagne.

The other method used to make champagne pink is slightly more complex and takes place while the wine is still in the vat. Traditional champagnes are made by mixing two-thirds black grape with one third white grape. After the grapes have been pressed, the skins of the black grapes can be left in with the white wine. This in effect dyes the wine red and produces pink champagne.

Until recently, white champagne was considered to be superior to the pink version of the drink.
Until recently, white champagne was considered to be superior to the pink version of the drink.

This process is still used today to make champagne pink, but it is not as popular or widely used as the first method. This is because the dying process is quite tricky to control. However, some people prefer leaving the black grape skins in to soak, as it gives the champagne a full-bodied flavor.

Only three different varieties of grape are used in the champagne making process: the white variety called Chardonay, and the two red varieties known as Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The sweetness or dryness of the champagne is determined by the amount of sugar added after the wine has fermented.

There are many different brands and types of pink champagne, but there is really only one true champagne.
There are many different brands and types of pink champagne, but there is really only one true champagne.

There are many different brands and types of pink champagne, but there is really only one true champagne. Real champagne is so called because it comes from an area in France called Champagne. Champagne is situated northeast of Paris. Wine experts insist that only champagne from this area can be considered true champagne.

Discussion Comments

Chmander

@Viranty - This is just my opinion, but I think the reason why people always drink during sports games is because it's a way to celebrate. Besides, you don't see many women doing it, now do you? Usually it's just the guys. On the weekend, what better way to celebrate than to gather your buddies at the bar, and have a couple shots of champagne or beer. I don't drink, but this is my perspective.

Viranty

As much as I like alcoholic beverages, why do people always associate them with football games and sports? I'm actually not a fan of alcoholic beverages, but my friends are always drinking during the big games, and it really gets on my nerves. I feel like if I continue to hang out them, I'll eventually succumb to the pressure of having a drink with them. Due to my dad's less than stellar history with alcohol, I know that if were to have a drink, I would become addicted. In all honesty, I feel like it's part of my genetics.

RoyalSpyder

I have to admit that all this discussion about champagne is very interesting. Alcoholic beverages, whether it's beer or even wine, have become such a norm in our society, that we often don't think of their origins, or how they're made. However, if we took some time to stop and think about the various methods of production, such as the fermentation process, than that would them even more worthwhile.

As an example, before reading this article, I wasn't aware that real champagne came from an area in France of the same name. On top of that, I like how the article states that only true champagne comes from that area in France. It just goes to show how sometimes, we might not know as much about a product as we thought.

discographer

For my wedding, I wanted to buy pink champagne. But it was going to cost way more than what we had planned for in our budget. So what we ended up doing was buying regular white champagne and then adding framboise liquor to it to make it pink. I know it wasn't real pink champagne but it looked great, tasted great and everybody loved it!

My cousin is going to do something similar for her wedding too. She also wants pink champagne and her wedding theme is pink too. Instead of using liquor though, she's going to put hibiscus flowers in the champagne glasses and then will put white champagne in them. The hibiscus apparently will tint the champagne pink. Plus, it's edible and people can eat it if they really want.

I think these are good affordable alternatives for getting pink champagne for special events.

burcidi

@hyrax53-- Well champagne is sparkling wine. The only difference is that after the wine's fermentation is complete, while it's being bottled, a yeast is added to the bottle so that it can ferment again. This second fermentation, followed by removal of sediments and chilling makes the wine into champagne.

So pink champagne is actual champagne. When the article talks about mixing red and white wines together to make pink champagne, it's talking about what is done before the second fermentation.

I hope this helps!

ysmina

I've asked my uncle this question before. He spends most of the year in France. He has grape vines there and makes and sells vines locally.

He told me that they start out the same way that they make red wine. The only difference is that they remove the grape skins early on so that the wine ends up being pink rather than red.

Most people don't realize this but grape juice is actually clear. If the grape skins aren't added during the fermentation process, all wine would come out a clear color. Leaving the skins in all throughout fermentation makes the wine red. And taking them out earlier, after they've fermented slightly makes pink wine.

I think this is really cool and I'm sure that this is the best way of making rose champagne.

hyrax53

So isn't pink champagne wine that is pink, that rather than actual champagne? That at least seems the case to me in terms of mixing two types together. This seems like a strange idea.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Red wine can be added to white wine to make pink champagne.
      By: tpfeller
      Red wine can be added to white wine to make pink champagne.
    • Until recently, white champagne was considered to be superior to the pink version of the drink.
      By: Igor Normann
      Until recently, white champagne was considered to be superior to the pink version of the drink.
    • There are many different brands and types of pink champagne, but there is really only one true champagne.
      By: ncoyot
      There are many different brands and types of pink champagne, but there is really only one true champagne.