Anthocyanins are a phenolic group of coloured substances belonging to the class of flavonoids (plant pigments), comprising over 600 types. The name roughly translates as ‘blue flower’. These water-soluble pigments occur as glycosides, bound to sugars. Anthocyanins are found exclusively in the cell sap of terrestrial plants; they are not present in animals, microorganisms or aquatic plants. In grapes, the most significant anthocyanins are cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, peonidin and petunidin. In many plants, these pigments are responsible for the red, violet, blue or blue-black colouration of flowers and fruits. In most grape varieties, they are produced only in the skins of the berries. Only in ‘Teinturiers’ (dyeing grapes) is a proportion of the anthocyanins also found in the typically dark flesh of the berries of these varieties.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena