Is the association red wines-tannins and white wines-no tannins correct? Do white wines have tannins? Below, to satisfy your curiosity, we will answer all these questions.

Does white wine contain tannins?

To answer this question we must remember 4 key information on tannins:

1. Tannins are naturally present in grapes, in particular in skins, seeds and stems. There are also in the wood of casks, therefore, in case of long aging in these containers, they can be given to the wine. Finally, the producer, for several reasons, may decide to add tannins in an artificial way.
2. Tannins are transmitted to the wine mainly during the maceration of the must on the skins. The contact between skins, which contain tannins, and must allows tannins to pass from solid to liquid part and then to wine.
3. Tannins are very important for the wine: they are excellent antioxidants, protecting wine from the effects of contact with oxygen; moreover, they define and stabilize the color of the wine.
4. The presence of tannins is perceived through a sensation of dryness on our palate. It should be noted that too many tannins cause excessive dryness and therefore an unpleasant sensation. It is up to the producer to find the winning formula to identify the ideal quantity of tannins that can be present in the wine.

In red wines, tannins are always present, in variable quantities. Why are tannins always present? We recall point 2, when we wrote that the transmission of tannins occurs during the maceration of the must on the skins. This operation is typical and characteristic of the production of red wines. Moreover, we must consider that tannins are transmitted to wine also during the aging in wooden barrels (because tannins are present in wood), another typical trait of many red wines. This explains the remarkable presence of tannins in red wines.

Let’s go to white wines. Are there tannins in white wines? Do white wines have tannins? Let’s answer these questions: Yes! Yes, also white wines contain tannins, but usually in very limited quantities or so limited as to be imperceptible. In the production of white wines, the contact between skins, which contain tannins, and must does not happen or, however, it occurs for a shorter time than in the production of red wines. For this reason, the quantity of tannins in white wines is much lower if we compare it to red wines.

In short, we conclude by saying that tannins are also present in white wines, not only in red wines. In white wines are present in lower quantities. For this reason, in white wines are difficult to perceive on the palate.