Positive designation and most important attribute for the colour of a wine in the context of a wine address (in verbal form) and wine evaluation (using a points system). Other terms, sometimes used in combination, which vary depending on the type of wine or wine colour, are bright, sparkling, brilliant, torch-light, brilliant, crystal-clear, mirror-clear and transparent. To determine the clarity of a white wine in particular, hold the tilted wine glass against a light source in front of a bright background. A clear wine always has brilliance, it shines even in darker colours.
A deep-coloured red wine cannot be transparent, of course, but it can certainly be clear. The highest level is called "black lustre". This is derived from a common method of determining clarity. The filled red wine glass is viewed against the light in front of a dark surface. Any clouding would become visible through brighter reflections. An absolutely clear red wine, on the other hand, will appear black due to a lack of reflections.
A term often used in the past for clear red wines with a simultaneous depth of colour is "torchlight" (although the ethymological meaning is not known). Cloudiness or a cloudy, fluffy texture indicates a wine defect. A swirled deposit should be avoided if possible, but does not indicate a defect or fault. A related term to clear is clean (unclouded, so to speak). Negative terms are blind (opaque, cloudy) and dull.
White wine glass: by Michal Jarmoluk on Pixabay
Red wine glass: by Christine Sponchia on Pixabay
