Did you know that 2 of the 3 grapes (Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir) that are used in Champagne production are actually red grapes? Nearly all red grapes used in winemaking have clear pulp but in fact derive their color from their skins.  In red wine production, the grapes are crushed and left on the skins  during fermentation to extract color and tannin. Tannins are a natural preservative that allow a wine to age and wine with tannin tends to really pair well with cheeses and red meats. Wines that typically have a lot of tannins include (more…)