Aug 2016
Tannins!
August, 2016 Filed in: Wine terms
Most people probably have heard of tannins, but don’t know what they are all about. Well, tannins are a polyphenol, which we will get into later, but they are the same chemicals that are used to tan animal hides. Ewww!
Tannins and polyphenols are naturally occurring chemicals that are thought to play a role in natural protection by the plant against insect predation. A natural occurring insecticide. These tannins are found in seeds, bark, wood leaves and fruit skins.
To the taste, tannins are astringent, giving a dry puckery almost bitter taste in your mouth. Many describe the feeling in the mouth as if they had fur on their tongue. If you think of drinking tea, particularly tea made from loose tea and steeped for a long time, and you taste some bitterness, that is tannin. Not only is tea high in tannin, so is chocolate, pomegranates and red beans. Think of tasting real dark chocolate, and the bitterness in your mouth, that is tannin.
In wine, tannins are mostly found in red wine and not white wine. This is because commercial red wines are fermented with skins and seeds. Whereas with white wine the skins, are removed before fermentation in order that no off colour is present. The tannins in red wine will come from the skins and seeds. Of course, many of the wine kits we sell do come with a crushed grape pack that will provide, and result in a more tannic wine. White wines may have tannins in them if the wine is age in oak barrels. This is particularly true of many chardonnays.
Certain red wines are particularly high in tannins as the variety of grape is high in tannins. Examples of wine with higher tannins are Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano and Petit Verdot. Wines that are low in tannins are Barbera, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Merlot.
Interestingly wine tannins restrict oxidation, the nature of polyphenols, and therefore many of the proclaimed health benefits from red wine are due to this characteristic. Unfortunately for tea drinkers, the tannin in tea does not share the same oxidation characteristic. There is some controversy with regards to tannins causing migraine headaches in some people. Tannins are known to constrict blood vessels. If headaches from wine are a problem for some, they may want to focus on low tannin red wines, or white wine not aged in oak.
Tannins and polyphenols are naturally occurring chemicals that are thought to play a role in natural protection by the plant against insect predation. A natural occurring insecticide. These tannins are found in seeds, bark, wood leaves and fruit skins.
To the taste, tannins are astringent, giving a dry puckery almost bitter taste in your mouth. Many describe the feeling in the mouth as if they had fur on their tongue. If you think of drinking tea, particularly tea made from loose tea and steeped for a long time, and you taste some bitterness, that is tannin. Not only is tea high in tannin, so is chocolate, pomegranates and red beans. Think of tasting real dark chocolate, and the bitterness in your mouth, that is tannin.
In wine, tannins are mostly found in red wine and not white wine. This is because commercial red wines are fermented with skins and seeds. Whereas with white wine the skins, are removed before fermentation in order that no off colour is present. The tannins in red wine will come from the skins and seeds. Of course, many of the wine kits we sell do come with a crushed grape pack that will provide, and result in a more tannic wine. White wines may have tannins in them if the wine is age in oak barrels. This is particularly true of many chardonnays.
Certain red wines are particularly high in tannins as the variety of grape is high in tannins. Examples of wine with higher tannins are Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano and Petit Verdot. Wines that are low in tannins are Barbera, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Merlot.
Interestingly wine tannins restrict oxidation, the nature of polyphenols, and therefore many of the proclaimed health benefits from red wine are due to this characteristic. Unfortunately for tea drinkers, the tannin in tea does not share the same oxidation characteristic. There is some controversy with regards to tannins causing migraine headaches in some people. Tannins are known to constrict blood vessels. If headaches from wine are a problem for some, they may want to focus on low tannin red wines, or white wine not aged in oak.