Tannins are the Elixir of Life
Tannins, found in grape skins, help wines age but also help you age too. What do they taste like? Put a wet tea bag on your tongue and find out!
Wine Quiz
Question: Which of the following is true about tannin?
- They come from the juice of grapes
- Tannins in wine become smoother over time thanks to polymerization
- Pinot Noir is one of the most tannic grape varieties
- Tannins are exclusively found in grapes and are not found in other plants
Scroll down to find out!
Tannat sounds like Tannin for a reason
Tannat is the most planted variety in Uruguay. Recent studies have found that it contains the highest polyphenols (antioxidants) and tannins of all red wines. All those antioxidants help both you and the wine age gracefully.
Wine Tannins: Good, Bad, or Better?
How do you find wines with smooth tannins? Let’s break down this important trait found primarily in red wines so that you can find more wines that you love.
Uruguay – the Home of Tannat
Thanks to French immigrants bringing their hometown grapes to Uruguay in the late 1800s, Tannat vines were readily cultivated and have since become the country’s dominant grape variety, enthusiastically representing well over a third of the nation’s plantings.
Wine Quiz Answer
Answer – #2: Tannins get smoother over time thanks to polymerization (the tannins join together and get smoother) and they originate from the skins and seeds of a grape. Tannins can also be found in many other plants. Although Pinot Noir does have tannins, it doesn’t have much.
