This work aimed to evaluate the effect of four fining agents on the colour and pigment composition of red
wines of Tannat. The wines were analysed 15 days after fining and immediately after separation of sediments
and bottling. Colour was evaluated by spectrophotometry and polyphenols were analysed by
spectrophotometry and HPLC–DAD. The colour intensity of wine was significantly decreased by bentonite
and egg albumin. The most remarkable effects on wine phenolic composition were produced by bentonite
and gelatin, which significantly decreased anthocyanin and tannin concentrations, respectively. Results
show that each fining agent has very different impact on the wine attributes, and their effects depended
as well on the composition of the clarified wine. The use of non-traditional agents of fining, as vegetable
proteins, may have less impact on the colour and anthocyanin content of red wines.