Vin There, Drank That

Tag: structure

  • It’s All About that Ac…id: The Highs and Lows of a Wine’s Acid

    When I first started tasting wines “academically,” structure was new territory. 

    Flavors? I had those down to the minutiae–fresh-picked vs. bruised, toasted vs. roasted, star anise vs. liquorice, or gardenia vs. generic white blossom. Designing over a dozen New Years’ Day Rose Floats gave me confidence in my floral and fruit notes. My baking passion covered pastry and spice. Being a foodie rounded out the savory side.

    But now I was being asked to describe acid, tannin, and body—and not just the level, but the character. As if acid had a personality.

    I remember thinking: Can I just get a simple lesson on high vs. low acid first?

    The Set-Up

    For this side-by-side, I chose two wines with similar flavor profiles. It’s easy to confuse flavor with structure—especially when citrus tricks your brain into assuming high acidity.

    So instead of citrus, I went floral: 

    • Torrontes — Altosur 2024 from the Sophenia Family (Uco Valley, Argentina)
    • Gewurztraminer – Bestheim Alsace 2021 de Chasseurs de Lune

    Both are pretty aromatic. Both scream flowers. Like English Garden potency.  But structurally? Very different. Especially with their levels of acid. 

    Torrontes – The High Acid 

    • Aromas: dried white flowers, chamomile, apple blossom, lemon rind.
    • Body: medium with a solid finish
    • Acid: unmistakably high

    It wasn’t sharp or sour – but it built. A rising puckering sensation that took over the longer I held it in my mouth.

    After swallowing, my mouth watered – but also felt oddly strippled, like the moisture had been pulled out and replaced with tension in my mouth. 

    A quick sip? Fine.

    Let it linger? That acid showed up with authority. 

    Gewurztraminer – The Low Acid

    The Gewurztraminer had a similar intensity of aroma and palate. 

    • Aromas: elderflower, chamomile, white blossom, lemon juice, pear juice.
    • Body: similar to the Torrontes. While less flat than most wines from this grape, it still presented with its “flabby” texture.
    • Acid: Low, but….

    On its own, it felt fresh – brighter than many Gewurztraminers.

    But side-by-side?

    Flat. Like a soda left out too long.

    No puckering. No mouthwatering. Just soft, floral, settled.

    The Real Lesson: The Switch

    • Gewurztraminer –> Torrontes:
      • The Gewurzt felt easy and refreshing. Balcony-on-a-warm-day wine.Then the Torrontes hit.My mouth didn’t know what to do with all that acid. 
      • After the wine slid down my gullet, my lips were pursing, tongue dancing, instant intensity. 
    • Torrontes –> Gewurztraminer:
      • The Torrontes was crisp, balanced, fresh. Then the Gewurz…
      • Syrupy. Heavy. Almost like leftover sweetness in a glass left overnight on the counter. 

    So What Does “High Acid” Actually Feel Like?

    Not just “tart.”

    It’s:

    • Puckering
    • Mouthwatering
    • Slightly drying
    • Makes you want food
    • Makes you want another sip.

    That physical reaction – that’s your tell.