Tannins are a pretty touchy subject, second only to sulfites, when it comes to a wine lover’s strong preferences.
Some of us are adamantly opposed to drinking anything other than low tannin red wine, so much so that we’d prefer to skip the red wine all together.
Now, that thought makes me sad. I’d like to think that there are enough delicious low tannin red wines to keep even the most stubborn tannin-haters happy, at least to get them through a Thanksgiving meal!
Before I get into the best low tannin red wine, I’d like to explain a bit more about what exactly tannins are, and why maybe (just maybe) you don’t hate them as much as you think you do.
Tannins come from a group of compounds called “phenols,” and are found in the wine skins, stems, and seeds. Tannins are really only present in red wines, since they are fermented with their skins.
Structure: It’s the complexity in a wine that’s hard to explain when the tannins are fully developed, but it’s much more noticeable when they are not.
When the structure is sound, meaning the tannins have fully matured before harvest and following extended barrel aging, the wine will taste full, smooth, and rich.
When the tannins are underdeveloped due to premature harvesting or not enough time spent in the barrel, the wine will taste grippy and desperately dry.
Ageability: Tannins act as a preservative. The more tannins a wine has, the longer aging potential it will have.
This is why Bordeaux wines or Nebbiolo can be aged for decades, with their flavors slowly unraveling over time.
Last Word: Drink More White and Rosé Wine Since tannin is extracted from the skins, seeds, and stems of a grape, and these only come in contact in red wine fermentations (for the most part), the best way to completely avoid tannins in wine is to drink more rosé and white wine.
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Q: What are the safest wines for someone who has a mild tannin allergy (rash, swollen lips)? Are there any special winegrowing or production techniques that would reduce the level of tannins in a wine? —Greg F., Bethel, Conn.
Red wines, which are fermented with their skins, have much higher tannin levels than white wines, and additional tannins can be imparted to wines as they age in oak barrels. With a physicians approval, unoaked white wines like Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Grigios and Rieslings would be the first place to start for someone with tannin sensitivity. Rosés, which are made from red grapes but do not get much contact with the skins, are also much less tannic than traditional red wines. For reds, Dr. Mainardi suggests that a good rule of thumb for estimating tannin level is that the longer a wine can age, the more likely it is to have a high level of tannins (which are key components of a wines structure and ageability). Drink-now reds that tend to be lower on the tannic spectrum include grapes like Barbera, Dolcetto, Gamay, Grenache, Pinot Noir and Valpolicella that have not received extended oak aging.
A: We referred your question to Dr. Timothy Mainardi of Hudson Allergy, who is also a consulting allergist for Memorial Sloan Kettering. Heres what he had to say: “If you truly have a reaction to tannins, then there are some reds you can still drink. How do you know if its really tannins? If a strong cup of black tea causes similar symptoms, then it’s probably tannins, as black tea has a high level of tannins. Tannins are present to some extent in all wines—they are concentrated in grape skins—but some wines are naturally higher in tannins than others.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon low in tannins?
The tannins of grapes grown in warmer climates tend to be smoother and larger. Some varieties are more tannic than others.
Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, is high in tannins. And Pinot Noir is much lower.
Which Red Wines Have The Least Tannins
FAQ
What wine has no tannins?
Do all wines have tannins?
Is Pinot Grigio low in tannins?
Does Moscato have tannins?
Which wine has the least tannins?
Tannins are often a desirable flavor component in wines, but not every wine has tannins, and not every wine drinker enjoys them. Whites and rosés are popular for having low tannin content, but which red wines have the least tannins?
Can one drink wine with type 2 diabetes?
It is not recommended to drink alcohol with type 2 diabetes since it can cause sudden changes in blood sugar levels and can be dangerous.
How to avoid tannins in wine?
Since tannin is extracted from the skins, seeds, and stems of a grape, and these only come in contact in red wine fermentations (for the most part), the best way to completely avoid tannins in wine is to drink more rosé and white wine.
What makes a wine a low tannin wine?
As the thickness of the wine grape skin plays a significant role in the wine tannin content, grapes with thinner skin such as Pinot Noir and Barbera will produce low tannin wines, while thicker skin grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec will make high tannin red wines.