Skin contact is effective with which type of wine?

• A. Red wines
• B. Fortified wines
• C. Aromatic varieties
• D. Non-aromatic white wines

Answer: (C)

Skin contact releases compounds from grape skins into the juice, shaping aroma, flavor, and texture. Aromatic varieties carry many of their distinctive fragrant compounds in the skins, so allowing the juice to macerate with the skins amplifies those floral and fruity notes and adds depth to the wine’s aroma. This gives an aromatic white wine a more pronounced, integrated bouquet and fuller mouthfeel without necessarily making it darker or more tannic, which is why skin contact is especially beneficial for aromatic varieties. Fortified wines typically don’t rely on skin-contact styles, red wines depend on skin contact for color and tannin, and non-aromatic whites may lose some of their delicate aromas if kept in skin contact for longer.