Classifying wines by color is one of the easiest things for any wine enthusiast. Once you focus on color, the world of wine splits neatly into three: white, rosé (or pink), and red. As you get more familiar with grapes, you gradually learn which varieties are used for red wines, which for rosés, and which for whites. But discovering a white wine made from a grape traditionally associated with red wine? Now that can come as quite the surprise. This unexpected discovery has a name: Blanc de Noir — a French phrase meaning “White from Black.”

But why make white wine from red grapes?

• Showcasing Red Grape Character Without Color

Red-skinned grapes often offer more aromatic complexity and structure than white grapes. When you want to capture these characteristics — but without the color and tannin — you turn to the Blanc de Noir method.

• An Essential Part of Sparkling Wine Production

In Champagne and other traditional-method sparkling regions, red grapes like Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are pressed and turned into white base wines through Blanc de Noir techniques. In Türkiye, grapes like Kalecikkarası and Karasakız are similarly prized for their ability to bring body, depth, and aging potential to sparkling wines.

• A Creative Playground for Producers

Blanc de Noir offers winemakers an alternative showcase — especially for red varieties that are low in pigment but rich in aroma. It’s also an exciting field for small, experimental producers who want to step beyond the expected.

• Sometimes, It’s Just Necessity

As the late Haşim Yunatçı of the former Çamlıbağ Wines once shared, a disease outbreak left them with no usable white grapes one season. The solution? A white wine made from Kuntra grapes using Blanc de Noir techniques.

How Is It Made?

Here’s the curious part: Almost all wine grapes, regardless of skin color, yield a pale yellow juice when pressed.* That’s because the pigment resides in the skins, not in the flesh.

In red winemaking, the juice is left in contact with the grape skins so that color and tannin are extracted. But in Blanc de Noir, the juice is separated immediately from the skins after pressing. The result is a wine with the look of a white, but often with a subtle signature of red fruit on the palate.

Still, color alone doesn’t make a wine. So what makes a red grape suitable for Blanc de Noir?

What Kind of Grapes Work Best for Blanc de Noir?

The following factors help identify which red grapes are best suited for white winemaking:

• Skin Thickness

Thinner skins mean less risk of color leaching into the juice. For Blanc de Noir, this is essential.

• Pigment Concentration

The main coloring compounds in grape skins are anthocyanins. Grapes with low anthocyanin levels are ideal for Blanc de Noir.

• Vine Age

Younger vines tend to produce grapes with higher acidity — perfect for refreshing white wines. Older vines may offer complexity, but often at the cost of crispness.

• Climate & Elevation

Cool climates and high altitudes help grapes retain acidity and reduce pigment concentration. This makes them more favorable for Blanc de Noir than grapes from warmer, lower areas.

• Timing of the Harvest

Early harvests help maintain acidity and minimize color development. Grapes are picked before pigments fully mature, keeping the juice lighter and livelier.

Turkish Grapes Used in Blanc de Noir

• Karasakız (Kuntra)

Originating from Bozcaada, Karasakız — known locally in Greek as Kuntra — has thin skins, low pigment, and a lovely aromatic profile. Its naturally vibrant acidity makes it a strong candidate for white winemaking.

• Çalkarası

Traditionally used for rosés due to its low pigment, Çalkarası has also found success in Blanc de Noir styles. You can taste several examples from Denizli producers on the WAYANA menu.

• Papaskarası

This endemic Thracian variety meets the criteria for Blanc de Noir production and is increasingly being used by Trakya-based winemakers — some of whom are also featured at WAYANA.

• Kalecikkarası

While not a perfect fit in terms of pigment, Kalecikkarası has been explored by innovative Turkish producers for white expressions as well. You’ll find examples on our list.

Final Word

Wine is a realm of infinite possibilities — that’s one of the reasons it’s endured for millennia. Innovations in winemaking often begin as creative solutions to problems. Over time, thanks to curious drinkers and open-minded producers, they evolve into entirely new styles.

Blanc de Noir is one such innovation. It may have emerged from the world of sparkling wines, but it has since found its own place as a distinctive and expressive category. And the best part? Tasting both the red and white versions of the same grape from the same producer — and discovering which one your own palate prefers.

*Note: A few rare grape varieties (like Georgia’s Saperavi) have red flesh as well as red skins. These are called teinturier grapes. As of today, Türkiye does not have an endemic teinturier variety.