Brown vs Wine: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Brown and Wine is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Brown is lighter and Brown is more saturated. Brown (#A52A2A) has an HSL of 0°, 59%, 41%, whereas Wine (#722F37) sits at 353°, 42%, 32%.

Brown#A52A2A

Wine#722F37

#A52A2ABlended: #8C2D31#722F37

Brown vs Wine: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Brown Wine

BrightnessMedium (L=41%) — balanced, versatileDark (L=32%) — rich, serious, substantial

SaturationModerately saturated (S=59%) — balanced in intensityModerately saturated (S=42%) — balanced in intensity

Hue familyRedRed

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#A52A2A#722F37

RGB165, 42, 42114, 47, 55

Can you use Brown and Wine together?

Wine text on Brown

Brown text on Wine

Contrast Ratio:1.36:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Brown and Wine Apart

●Look at lightness first: Brown is noticeably lighter.
●Check saturation: Brown looks more vivid and saturated.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Brown vs Wine in Design

Use Brown for:

●Alerts, errors, stop states

●Sale & promotion banners

●Food and beverage packaging

●Sports and energy branding

●Romantic & bold fashion

Use Wine for:

●Alerts, errors, stop states

●Sale & promotion banners

●Food and beverage packaging

●Sports and energy branding

●Romantic & bold fashion

Brown and Wine Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Brown#A52A2A

Brown (#A52A2A) is a medium, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Wine#722F37

Wine (#722F37) is a dark, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and balanced in intensity.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Brown and Wine WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview

Brown text on white

7.08:1AAA

Sample text preview

Brown text on black

2.96:1Fail

Sample text preview

Wine text on white

9.65:1AAA

Sample text preview

Wine text on black

2.18:1Fail

Sample text preview

Brown text on Wine

1.36:1Fail

Sample text preview

Wine text on Brown

1.36:1Fail

Explore Brown and Wine individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Brown color page#A52A2A · shades, tints, pairings Wine color page#722F37 · shades, tints, pairings

More Brown and Wine Comparisons

Brown vs Wine FAQ

What is the difference between brown and wine?+

The main difference between Brown and Wine is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Brown is lighter and Brown is more saturated. Brown (#A52A2A) has an HSL of 0°, 59%, 41%, whereas Wine (#722F37) sits at 353°, 42%, 32%.

Is brown darker than wine?+

No. Wine is the darker of the two at 32% lightness, while Brown sits higher at 41%.

Are brown and wine the same color?+

No. Brown is #A52A2A and Wine is #722F37. They differ by 7° in hue, 9% in lightness, and 17% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, brown or wine?+

Brown is more saturated. In HSL, Brown has 59% saturation and Wine has 42% — Brown is the more vivid of the two, while Wine reads as more muted.

Is brown warm or cool?+

Brown (#A52A2A) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Is wine warm or cool?+

Wine (#722F37) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 353° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use brown and wine together?+

Yes. Both brown and wine are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use wine as the dominant color and brown as the accent or highlight.

What color family does brown belong to?+

Brown belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 59%, 41% — a warm tone within the broader red group.

What is the hex code for brown?+

The hex code for Brown is #A52A2A. In RGB, that's rgb(165, 42, 42), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 59%, 41%).

What is the hex code for wine?+

The hex code for Wine is #722F37. In RGB, that's rgb(114, 47, 55), and in HSL it's hsl(353, 42%, 32%).