The formation of vitisin A, an anthocyanin formed naturally in small quantities in maturing port wines, was studied in model wine solutions at several storage temperatures (10, 15, 20, and 32 degrees C). Vitisin A was formed through the interaction between malvidin 3-glucoside and pyruvic acid, Acylated forms of vitisin A, having the 6-position of the sugar acylated with acetic acid (3-acetylvitisin A) and p-coumaric acid (3-p-coumarylvitisin A), were also formed through the interaction between pyruvic acid and malvidin 3-acetylglucoside and malvidin 3-p-coumarylglucoside, respectively. A maximum degradation of the anthocyanins was obtained at higher temperatures, and it followed a first-order kinetics both with and without pyruvic acid in the solution. Whereas at low temperatures (10 and 15 degrees C) the presence of pyruvic acid accelerated the kinetic reaction, at higher temperatures (20 and 32 degrees C) it decreased it. The activation energy values for the degradation of the three anthocyanins in model solutions without and with pyruvic acid were not significantly different from each other. At low temperatures the highest concentrations of vitisin A compounds were obtained. All solutions showed a decrease in L value, indicating that all solutions became darker. This change increased with increasing temperature. All model solutions increased in the hue angle, indicating that the solutions changed from a bluish-red to an orange-red or even brownish-red color. Samples without pyruvic acid remained lighter and became browner than those with pyruvic acid. A good correlation between the amount of vitisin A in the solution and hue angle was found, indicating that vitisin A may contribute the orange-red of solutions, compared to the browner control.