Tannins – What Are They? How They Influence the Quality of Wine

Tannin, also known as phenolic acid, is a chemical substance that can be found abundantly in a variety of edible and inedible plants. Fruits and nuts including amla, grapes, papaya, walnut, and others naturally contain tannins in them. It is also found in chocolate, tea, coffee, and most importantly in wine. Tannins are well known for the ability to easily bind with proteins and minerals.

Moreover, tannin is popular for its astringent and bitter flavor that cause a drying sensation in our mouth. It adds a sense of weight and structure to the wine. The more tannin there is in a wine, the more astringent it will be. The extraction of tannins during wine making plays a big role. The process of formation of red wine is completely from grapes, in which red wine ferments along with skins, pips, juice, and stems are mashed together to leach the tannin into the wine. Initially, the tannins leached into the wide are smaller molecules. However, with the passage of time, these tannins combine together and produce longer chain through a process known as polymerization. This way, tannins are considered to help a wine to age.

Furthermore, few grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Malbec, Merlot, Sauvignon, and Cabernet have more tannins than others like Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Grenache. Climate conditions also influence the quality of tannins. For example, tannins produced from Northern temperature are more structured, angular, and drying, while a hot climate like Australia influence the production of grapes that are rounded, lush, and smooth.  

There is a distinct chemistry of tannin with the saliva in our mouth. When the wine get in touch with the saliva, the tannin molecules of wine interact with the proteins present in saliva to form complexes, which in turn, reduce the amount of proteins to lubricate our mouth and gives a dry sensation. Not everyone feels the same dryness, because not everyone has the same composition and concentration of proteins in their saliva.

According to a report published by Allied Market Research, the global tannins market size is projected to reach $4.0 billion with a significant CAGR from 2021 to 2030. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to temporary closure of all wine production hubs, especially in the initial period of lockdown. This in turn, hampered the market to an extent. The restaurants and bars were closed and the sales of wine declined considerably.

Nevertheless, owing to rapid development of wine industry and presence of major wine manufacturers, Europe is holding the highest market share. In addition, drinks have been a regular part of the traditional meals in Europe, which is why, there is a high demand of local wine, especially in countries like Italy, France, Spain, and Turkey. Manufacturers over this region are focused on innovating new flavors, colors, and packaging customization, while also exporting them to other regions across the world. This in turn, is boosting the growth of the market in more than one way.

Related Post