Skin Contact

Winemaking wine term

The process of allowing grape skins to remain in contact with the juice during fermentation to extract color, tannins, and flavors.

Why it matters

Skin contact is a crucial step in red winemaking, contributing to the wine's color, tannic structure, and flavor profile. For white wines, extended skin contact can create 'orange wines,' which have more structure than traditional whites. This technique also enhances aromatic intensity and texture.