Chemical substances from the group of phenols (polyhydroxyphenols), which occur in the barks of many trees, shrubs and bushes as well as in the skins of fruits and also in grapes, especially of red wine varieties. They ultimately serve as a defence for plants against herbivores or predators and also as protection against microorganisms. Tannins can inactivate a large number of viruses and therefore have an antitoxic effect. They also have a very strong tanning effect, which is why they have been used for thousands of years in the production of leather. They belong to the large group of tanning agents, which is also used as a synonym.
Serious sources on the internet are rare - and Wine lexicon from wein.plus is one such source. When researching for my articles, I regularly consult the wein.plus encyclopaedia. There I get reliable and detailed information.
Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi