Tannins are a crucial element in understanding how wine looks, tastes, and feels. They contribute to a wine’s structure, ...

If you've ever left a teabag soaking too long or eaten a thick-skinned grape and wondered about the sharp, grassy sensation interfering with the sweetness, you're familiar with tannins.

One particular characteristic of wines you'll hear talked about often is its tannins. Tannins are astringent, bitter compounds that naturally occur in plants and deter animals from eating them.