Why is champagne white if red skinned grapes are used?

It's a great question! While Champagne is made from red-skinned grapes, it's not because of the skins that it's white. Here's why:

* Skin contact: The color of wine comes from the skin of the grapes. Red wines are made with red grapes and the juice is fermented in contact with the skins, extracting the color.

* Champagne's process: In Champagne, the juice is separated from the skins immediately after pressing. This means the juice doesn't have time to absorb the pigments from the skins, resulting in a clear, colorless liquid.

So, even though Champagne is made from red grapes, the color comes from the juice, not the skins.

Additional Notes:

* Blanc de Noirs: Some Champagnes are labeled "Blanc de Noirs" (White from Black), meaning they are made from red grapes, but they are still white because of the separation process.

* Red Champagne: There are some rare instances of red Champagne, but it's not common. These are made with red grapes, and the juice is fermented with the skins for a period of time, allowing the color to be extracted.