Ever taken a sip of red wine and felt your mouth go a little dry afterward?

That’s tannin.

Tannins are naturally found in grape skins, seeds, and stems, and they’re one of the things that give wine its structure.

Some wines have more of them, while others feel softer and smoother.

A few easy ways to notice tannins:

• Dry feeling on your tongue or gums – that slightly puckering sensation after a sip.

• More structure in the wine – Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, usually feels firmer than Pinot Noir.

• A great match for richer food – protein and fat can soften the way tannins feel, which is why bold reds work so nicely with dishes like steak or hearty pasta.

And if a wine feels a little too firm when you first open it, give it some time. A bit of air can help soften those tannins and allow more of the fruit to come through.

Tannins aren’t something you need to memorize or overthink.

Once you know what that dry sensation is, you’ll start noticing it naturally from one glass to the next.

And that’s really the fun of wine!

Learning what you like, one sip at a time. 🍷