If you've ever left a teabag soaking too long or eaten a thick-skinned grape and wondered about the sharp, grassy sensation interfering with the sweetness, you're familiar with tannins. Named for ...

They do! Tannins occur naturally in grape skins, seeds and stems. They’re also present in the oak barrels used to age many wines, including some whites. White wines, overall, have significantly less ...

Tannins are known to balance out things such as fat and protein in certain types of food, which is why tannin-heavy red wines are favored when paired with something like a beefy, juicy steak.