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Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Want to see more of them? Check out my archive. And here are my most Frequently Asked Questions.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
Recently I visited our local store to discuss red wine with a consultant. He recommended an Aussie Shiraz, to which I replied, "I cannot tolerate the majority of the Shiraz due to the high acid." When I drink most of the Aussie Shiraz, the taste buds in the backsides of my mouth literally scream. The consultant told me I did not know what I am talking about as only white wine has acid. Questions: How could I best describe my reaction to the tannic Shiraz? Does red wine have acid? Thank you!
—Gary L., Windsor, Ontario
Dear Gary,
I think you may be getting the terms "acid" and "tannins" a bit confused. Both contribute to the overall structure of a wine, and both are present in all wines (at some level). Let's start with acidity, which is more pronounced in white wines. Drinking an acidic wine will give you the same sensation you might get from drinking a mouthwatering lemonade or biting into a green apple, which is sometimes described as "sharpness." Keep in mind that red wines have acidity too, but often just enough in the background to keep them from being too flabby.
Tannins are also present in all wines, but are more dominant in red wines than in whites. If out of balance, tannins can have a harshness about them and create a drying, gripping sensation.
How do you know if the unpleasantness you've experienced with Shiraz comes from acidity or tannins? Well, you may not know for sure, but it's a pretty good bet that if it's a white wine, the sensation is due to acidity, and if it's a red wine, you are experiencing tannins. It's safest to say that you're trying to avoid the "harshness" or "grip" you've experienced in the past with some Aussie Shiraz, or that you're looking for a "smooth" or "mellow" version.
—Dr. Vinny
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