The determination of the grape variety of aged red wines based on the ratio of acetylated and coumaroylated anthocyanins (R(ac/coum)) can be influenced by the formation of pyranoanthocyanins. Coelution of the pyranoanthocyanin pinotin A and the 3-coumaroylglucoside of malvidin can affect the obtained data for the R(ac/coum) values, which in turn could lead to a false classification of wine variety and rejection of the wines by the food authorities. Investigations using different reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography columns demonstrate the importance of a good chromatographic resolution of these analytes.