What is skin contact?

• A. Process of removing skins before fermentation
• B. Process of clarifying must by settling
• C. Process of leaving the juice in contact with the skins to extract compounds.
• D. Process of fermenting without skins

Answer: (C)

Skin contact is the process of leaving the juice in contact with grape skins to extract compounds such as color, tannins, and aromatic precursors. This contact happens during fermentation for red wines (and can be extended for rosé or even some orange wines), allowing pigments from the skins and tannins to leach into the juice. The duration and conditions of skin contact influence the wine’s color intensity, mouthfeel, and aroma profile, and must be managed to balance desirable extraction with avoiding overly astringent or harsh tannins. The other scenarios describe removing skins before fermentation, clarifying the juice, or fermenting without skins, which do not involve this extraction from skins.