Teinturier Grapes
Definition - What does Teinturier Grapes mean?
Teinturier is a French term translated directly as "dyer" or "tinter". Teinturier includes a variety of grapes within the Vitis vinifera species which are red grapes with red flesh. This occurs when the anthocyanin pigments accumulate in the pulp of the berry. Some winemakers use these types of grapes for blending as they can boost the color intensity of other wines.
WineFrog explains Teinturier Grapes
Most red wine grapes have red or dark skins, however, on the inside the flesh is white and when the grapes are pressed, the juice runs clear. It is only by maceration that the skins' anthocyanins (color pigments) can be imparted into the wine making it red.
However, there are other grapes which have red flesh on the inside and thus, have red juice. In the past, these grapes were only used to make wines to blend with other red wines to increase their color and sometimes tannin content. However, today they are also made into single varietal wines.
Some Teinturier grapes are:
- Alicante Bouschet
- Petit Bouschet
- Morrastel Bouschet
- Dunkelfelder
- Chambourcin
- Norton
- Saperavi
- Salvador
