Many people are fans of red wine, with devotion and interest ranging from a passing curiosity to being devout connoisseurs. If you have a passion for red wine and fall anywhere on this spectrum, you may want to consider joining an online red wine club. There are plenty to choose from, and most offer you a great selection of reds with which you can educate yourself and further learn which specific branches of red wine suit your taste.
But whether you are an expert or a beginner, signed up to a red wine club or just starting to explore your interest, one of the first things you will need to know about is tannins.
How Do Tannins Relate to Wine?
Tannins is a very important term used during wine tastings. It essentially refers to how bitter, dry, and astringent (acidic) a wine is. Usually related to red wine, tannins offer a taste that is generally regarded as the opposite of the sweetness that can be found in many white wines.
We can measure a wine by how high its tannin level is, but this does not necessarily tell us of the quality of the wine. Some wine drinkers prefer a variety of wine with a high tannin level while others may not enjoy such a dry taste.
This means that one should attempt to understand tannins and how they affect the taste of wine in order to have a better idea of which wine is best for them.
What Are Tannins?
The higher the tannin level of wine, the more bitter and astringent it will be. Usually, tannins are more dominant in the younger varietals of red wines, which have not yet softened with age.
Tannins are, technically speaking, plant-derived polyphenols, (essentially micronutrients which can bind to the proteins in wine). They can be extracted from skins, stems, and seeds of the grapes which are used to produce the wine, but also from the barrels that many wines are aged in.
Tannins can be found in teas, nuts, chocolate, and spices, among others, but it is most commonly referenced when talking about red wine. Red wine usually has a higher tannin level, as these wines are in contact with the grape for a longer length of time.
The reason one should allow a wine to aerate before drinking is partly to do with tannins, which soften when exposed to the air.
If you are unsure of the taste of tannins or astringency, and how this affects the overall taste of wine, make yourself a cup of very strong black tea. Taste it, and then add milk and sugar or whatever you normally would, and taste it again. The more bitter, mouth-drying taste of the unaltered cup is the taste of tannins.
Examples of High Tannin Red Wines
Often referred to as full-bodied, here are the types of red wines that are generally found to have high tannin levels, although this changes from varietal to varietal. These wines usually age better in the bottle than those with lower tannin levels.
- Bordeaux
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Tuscan wines
- Sangiovese
- Shiraz or Syrah
Examples of Low Tannin Red Wines
Perhaps you are not used to the taste of a high tannin wine, and you may want to ease your way into this taste. These are the red wines that are generally found to have fewer tannins and are usually sweeter.
- Riesling
- Pinot Noir
- Tempranillo
The Bottom Line
So, if you are searching for the best red wines online, or simply looking to gain an understanding of the basics, you should pay close attention to the tannin level of your next purchase.