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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026Tannins
Tannins
Tannins (or tannoids) are naturally occurring polyphenols found in grape skins, seeds, stems and oak barrels that provide texture, structure and aging potential to wine. They are primarily present in red wines, causing a drying, mouth coating or astringent sensation on the tongue, often described as “grippy”. Tannins bind with protein due to their astringency, making high tannic wines ideal for pairing with high protein foods such as steak. Common examples of high tannin red wine varieties are Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Tempranillo.
See Also
Body
A wine's body is its weight, texture and overall mouthfeel which is determined by a combination of alcohol content, tannins, sugar and extract. A wine may be light, medium or full bodied.
Structure
A wine's structure refers to its foundational components, namely the tannins, acidity, alcohol, body and sugar. It describes the balance and backbone of the wine which determines how it feels, rather than its flavor or how it tastes.
Legs
Wine legs are the droplets and streaks of wine that form on the inside of a wine glass and resettle at the bottom after swirling.
Acidity
Acidity can be described as a "zing" on the tongue, acting as a structural backbone that balances sweetness and alcohol, while preventing spoilage.
Umami
Umami, which means "savory or delicious taste" in Japanese, is the "fifth taste" that adds complexity, richness and length to a wine's finish. It develops through glutamate and amino acids from late harvest grapes or lees aging and it enhances the other flavors.
Nose
The "nose" in wine refers to the aroma, scent or bouquet it gives off before tasting. It is generally categorized into primary, secondary and tertiary aromas.
Bouquet
The term "bouquet" refers to the complex aromas and perfumes that develop in wine due to bottle maturation, fermentation and wood aging. It includes scents like vanilla, toast, earth and truffle.
Hot
A "hot" wine is a wine with unbalanced, excessively high alcohol (>14.5% ABV) that creates a burning sensation in the throat and mouth.
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