Maqui Berries used for Coloring Wine

Wines are not just recognized by their age, but also by their flavor and what is most important, their color. Throughout the ages, humankind has used many types of colors, both natural and synthetic for coloring wine. While the synthetic colors serve their purpose quite well and are suitable for coloring wine, it is preferable that natural colors are used for wine coloring. Just search the net and you will find that there are many natural wine coloring agents that are used by leading breweries and distilleries for coloring wine.

If you observe carefully, you will also find the name maqui berries present in the list of natural coloring agents that are used for wine coloring. This berry has been available for a long time in the shady mountainous regions of Chile and is popular among wineries as the preferred choice for coloring wine. Take some maqui berries and moisten them with water. Now rub them on a piece of paper and you will observe that a deep violet colored smear visible on the paper. This natural coloring agent, present in maqui berries is being used more and more by wineries all over the world for the sole purpose of coloring their liquor products.

This common Chilean shrub has long been consumed by the natives of that country either freshly plucked or preserved for later consumption. Maqui berries belong to linden (Tiliaceat) group of shrubs and boasts of a fiber rich inner bark which is used for manufacturing the famous Russian mats. The fiber obtained from this berry is also used in Chili for the manufacture of cordage. Wines that are colored using the extracts of maqui berries display a mild violet color that also serves the purpose of enhancing the appeal of the wine.

Most wine aficionados who drink wine colored by maqui berries are not aware of the antioxidant properties of these berries. The oxidants present in the extracts of maqui berries serve a dual purpose when they are used for wine coloring. Not only do they impart a vibrant and rich color to the wine, the antioxidant properties also increase the shelf life of the wine. Many wineries across the world are nowadays importing maqui berries for their colorant properties, with France leading the rest of the countries. In fact, the popularity of the color of the maqui berries can be gauged by the fact that these berries have been able to replace elderberries that were previously used as a coloring agent for wines manufactured in France.