If the title gave you the impression that this would be a heavy read, let me ease your mind—this is not one of those overly academic pieces. While we may never be able to pinpoint the exact year wine was first made, archaeological discoveries now allow us to trace its existence back some 7,000 to 8,000 years. And there’s every reason to believe that with future findings, we may go even further back in time.

So how do archaeologists determine whether ancient vessels actually held wine? Through lab analyses. In the past, detecting tartaric acid residue alone was often enough to classify a container as a wine vessel. But we now know that this approach is overly simplistic—tartaric acid is naturally present in grapes, and can also appear in unfermented grape products like molasses. So its presence alone isn’t definitive proof.

In contrast, succinic acid forms during fermentation. When both tartaric and succinic acids are found together, scientists can more confidently conclude that the vessel once held wine.

CAN WE DETERMINE THE COLOR OF THE WINE IN THOSE VESSELS?

Let’s recall how color emerges in wine. In modern winemaking, preserving the light color of white wines requires limiting the contact between grape skins and juice. Winemakers remove the skins quickly after pressing to prevent color transfer. The longer the skin contact, the deeper the color.

Red wine, on the other hand, gets its color from the grape skins. The key pigment responsible for this transformation is a compound called malvidin anthocyanin.

So, with this in mind, modern archaeological techniques can sometimes help determine not just if wine was present—but also what kind. If both tartaric and succinic acids are detected along with traces of malvidin, it’s highly likely the vessel once held red wine. If malvidin is absent, the wine was probably white.

THE METAPHORS OF COLOR IN WINE TASTING

When you examine the color sections of wine tasting forms or journals, you’ll often find more than just basic color names. Descriptive metaphors are commonly used to help tasters visualize the shade more precisely.

White wines are typically described using terms like lemon yellow, straw yellow, golden, or amber. These metaphors allow tasters to place the color more vividly in their minds.

Rosé wines are usually labeled simply as pink, but metaphors like onion skin, salmon, or copper are also common.

And red wines? They, too, enjoy poetic descriptors: ruby, blood red, flag red, garnet, brick, and tile are just some of the terms that have become standardized in tasting vocabulary.

THE SYMBOLISM OF WINE COLORS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

In literature—especially foundational texts like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey—the color of wine is rich with symbolism. Homer’s phrase “wine-dark sea” evokes the eerie calm before a storm, while his use of “wine-colored blood” metaphorically ties wine to sacrifice and death.

In Christian tradition, red wine is often associated with the blood of Christ. And yet, for practical reasons (like avoiding stains), the wine used in many Western communion rituals is actually white.

In the Middle Ages, red wine symbolized strength. It was prescribed as medicine for the weak and associated with power—particularly among nobility and clergy. White wine, by contrast, was seen as refined and delicate. In Ancient Egypt, it was associated with purity and often reserved for women and priests. In medieval Europe, white wine was used to treat fevers and came to represent elegance—especially within aristocratic circles. 

Rosé wines carried lighter connotations—playfulness, leisure, and joy. Of course, in regions like Provence, where rosé is a serious affair, this perception may not fully apply.

WHEN WINE INSPIRES COLOR NAMES

Just as wine borrows from color to describe itself, the reverse is also true. Consider “burgundy,” a term borrowed from the famed French wine region of Bordeaux (in Turkish, “bordo”) and now widely used to describe deep red hues.

In fashion and design, “burgundy” and “claret” represent distinct shades of red, both named after wine regions.

“Champagne,” too—though originally a sparkling wine from a specific region—is now a color in its own right.

Even “Port,” referring to the Portuguese wine from Douro, has become shorthand for deep cherry tones.

A FINAL WORD

As you can see, the relationship between wine and color is a two-way street. Each borrows from the other to communicate more vividly. And since colors themselves carry emotional weight—blue signaling distance or melancholy, red connoting passion and energy—wine, steeped in storytelling, uses its color palette to speak volumes.

Next time a glass of wine is placed before you, take a moment. Look at its color—and think about everything we’ve just explored.