If acidity wakes up your mouth, tannins are what give wine its attitude. They’re the reason a Cabernet feels bold, a Pinot feels silky, and a young red can make your tongue feel like it just brushed against velvet sandpaper — in the best way.
Tannins come from the grape’s skins, seeds, and stems, and sometimes from oak barrels. They’re the tiny compounds that give red wine its structure, grip, and that satisfying dry finish. Think of them as the texture that turns flavor into feeling.
What Tannins Feels Like
Take a sip of strong black tea — that drying, slightly puckery feeling on your gums? That’s tannin. In wine, it shows up as texture more than taste. Some tannins feel powdery and elegant; others are bold and firm. It’s why certain wines feel smooth as cashmere while others feel structured like denim.
Where Tannins Come From
Black grapes have higher levels of skin tannin than white grapes. And even within the black-grape category, all tannin levels are not the same. Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Syrah and Tannat have some of highest tannin levels. Whereas Pinot Noir and Grenach have relatively lower levels. In addition, smaller berries, i.e. Syrah, may contribute even more tannins to a wine due to it’s high skin/pulp ratio.
Any time grapes are fermented with their skins, the tannins make their way into the final product of wine. Winemakers can also influence texture through barrel aging or extended skin contact — more time with the grape skins = more structure.
The Taste Test
Take a slow sip and pay attention to the feel, not just the flavor. Does your mouth dry slightly? Do you sense texture along your cheeks or tongue? That’s the tannin working. Smooth, polished tannins glide. Firm, youthful tannins grip. Neither is “better” — it’s all about your mood and the moment.
So, try it tonight! Pour a light red (Pinot Noir) and a bold red (Cabernet Sauvignon). Sip side by side. Feel the difference in texture — one soft and silky, the other firm and structured. That’s the spectrum of tannin, the touch of a wine’s personality.
Cheers! #ToastToTaste
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