🍷 Polyphenols

Polyphenols are a large family of substances found in the skins, seeds and stems of grapes. They include the pigments that colour red wine, the tannins that give a drying feel in the mouth, and resveratrol. These substances protect the plant from disease and sun.

Red wine has more polyphenols than white because the juice is soaked together with the skins. The soaking time affects the colour and density of the wine. Tannins give structure and allow wine to age. Over time they link up with each other and soften.

Of the polyphenols, resveratrol is the best known and gets much press. Studies look at various effects of these substances, but this is no reason to drink wine: alcohol harms health, and the benefit of individual substances has not been proven in people to the level of recommendation. The same substances are found in grapes, berries and tea. Polyphenols are among the main components of wine, along with alcohol, acids and sugar.