Glossary entries

Tannins in wine derive from the stems, skins, and seeds of grapes, and to a lesser extent, from the cask(s) in which a wine develops. The tannins in a young wine are usually harsh and mouth-puckering but mellow with age. They contribute to a wine’s aging potential. Tannins play a minor role in white wines since the berries are destemmed prior to pressing and the juice has little or no skin contact.