Wine Review: The beauty of wine Colour, then. It doesn't just draw you in; it informs. Whites that are very pale, with a pale-straw glint, are usually light, dry and unoaked; those with a deeper, buttery yellow tend to be richer, oakier and/or sweeter. Look for brightness and clarity in the glass, and examine texture, too - see the way a wine sashays around the bowl of the glass. Is it thin or viscous? Does it leave long trails of liquid that descend languidly down the sides (the 'tears' or 'legs')? That indicates a rich style. Grape varieties deliver different colours, so thin-skinned pinot noir is a pale ruby-red, while syrah/shiraz is dense, inky, almost black. Age makes a difference, too - older reds are more tawny, while young ones tend to have a blue-purple hint. Taste the Difference Côtes de Provence Rosé 2011, France (Sainsbury's, £7.99) Attractive French rosé, a pretty pink with a subtle peachy glow. Delicate strawberry-and-cream flavour, there is a refreshing crisp zip - a mouthwatering aperitif. Doña Dominga El Rebaño Shiraz 2010, Colchagua, Chile (Waitrose, £7.49) A new red from the Casa Silva stable. Inky purple in colour with spiced blackberries and damsons on the palate. Pair with peppery sausages and autumnal lamb braises. Oeil de Perdrix Rosé NV, Champagne, France (Majestic, £18) Named after the colour of the partridge's eye, this good-value pink champagne has long been popular for its very pale, coppery hue and light, crisp, biscuity style. TIPPLE TIP look and learn... To see wine at its best, use a plain, uncut, tall-stemmed glass with no patterns or colour, and hold it by the stem to examine the liquid in the bowl. Tilt the glass slightly against a white background, and look at both the deep centre and the very edge of the liquid