What are anthocyanins?

What are anthocyanins?

• A. Color compounds in grape skin
• B. Sugar molecules in grape juice
• C. Tannins in seeds
• D. Compounds responsible for red colors in grape skins

Answer: (D)

Anthocyanins are the pigments that give red to blue hues to plant tissues, and in grapes they are the compounds that produce the red coloration of the skins. In red and black grape varieties, these pigments accumulate in the skin’s vacuoles and are the primary source of the red color seen in the grape and carried into wine. They are a specific class of flavonoids, water-soluble, and their color can shift with pH as well as with aging and polymerization in wine. They are not sugars or tannins, which is why the precise description that they are compounds responsible for the red colors in grape skins is the best answer.

Anthocyanins are the pigments that give red to blue hues to plant tissues, and in grapes they are the compounds that produce the red coloration of the skins. In red and black grape varieties, these pigments accumulate in the skin’s vacuoles and are the primary source of the red color seen in the grape and carried into wine. They are a specific class of flavonoids, water-soluble, and their color can shift with pH as well as with aging and polymerization in wine. They are not sugars or tannins, which is why the precise description that they are compounds responsible for the red colors in grape skins is the best answer.