Wine is for drinking, right? Well yes, but before you do, take a good look at what it is your drinking. Different wines from different regions from different wineries of different ages have of course, different visual characteristics. The spectrum of colors that wine has to offer can be enjoyed on its own, which explains why it is often compared to gold, topaz, garnet and ruby.

These traits can best be observed by pouring the wine into a clean wine glass about 1/3 full. Hold the glass by the stem so you get a clear view of the wine contained in the bowl of the glass. The three main qualities you are looking to evaluate are hue, intensity and clarity.

The true color or hue of wine can best be seen by tilting the glass and looking at the wine through the rim. This way you can see the variation from the deepest part of the liquid to its edges. Look for very light shades of straw-toned color in white wines such as Chardonnay and Riesling. For Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, look for a more definite yellow color. For sweeter whites, look for a more golden color. The hues of red wines range from pink to varying shades of purple. You'll find lighter shades in wines such as Beaujolais and Pinot Noir and deeper, darker colors in wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot.

Intensity of a color can best be judged looking straight down through the wine from above. As with hue, the intensity of color can vary greatly. As a very general rule of thumb, the intensity of a wine's color is directly proportional to the intensity of the wine's flavor. Paler wines are generally milder while deep rich colors represent more robust flavors.

Be sure to notice the clarity of the liquid. This can best be noticed when light is shining sideways through the wine glass. Some wines can be crystal clear while others can be cloudy with particles. Sediment in a wine is typical and appropriate in some older wines, but it can be a warning signal of protein instability, yeast spoilage or re-fermentation in the bottle in younger wines.

The color of a wine can give you a great many clues to the character of the wine. Color can tell you the type or types of grape used, the growing conditions at the particular vineyard, as well the processing techniques used to produce a particular wine. The point is, a wine's color may be giving you some very revealing and intriguing information before you ever take a sip.

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