A sulphur-rich, water-soluble protein that coagulates (denatures) and flocculates when heated. The substance is mainly found in egg white, milk and blood serum, but also in various plants. Albumin has a positive electrical charge and therefore prefers to bind negatively charged wine ingredients, especially tannins. In the course of a tannagetannagetannage, albumin forms a fine-grained, fluffy precipitate with the bound substances, which sinks to the bottom and is then removed by tapping into another container or filtration.

Due to its selective and gentle effect, albumin is mainly used to reduce the astringency of tannins in red wines, whereby colour and structure are generally only slightly affected. The effect is comparable to that of gelatine or isinglass. Preparations containing albumin are classified as declarable allergens from a quantity of 0.25 mg/l proteins in the wine. See also under Schönen.
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Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)