Discover the world of Orange Wine

In short:

An increasingly popular up and comer, the orange wine trend shows no signs of slowing down. With the rise of enthusiasm for natural wine in recent years, consumers are broadening their horizons and searching for new flavour profiles – and orange wine perfectly fitting the bill.

What is orange wine?

Orange wine, also referred to as skin contact or macerated wine, is a type of white wine made by maintaining grape-skin and seed contact throughout much of the winemaking process. The finished product has an orange hue and a delicious texture. The different orange tones develop from the amount of time the juice sits with its skins, from several years in ancient clay to a matter of hours in stainless steel.

The first traces of orange wine come from Georgia and originate from ancient winemaking practices, dating as far back as 5,000 years. Originally, orange wines were fermented in large buried earthenware amphorae, closed with flagstones and sealed with beeswax with absolutely nothing added to it. Ancient techniques, as well as modern offshoots, have experienced a resurgence in multiple regions. Nowadays orange wine is made globally from Italy to Slovenia to South Africa.

Flavour profile

Although you can make orange wine from any white grape, some of the more traditional varieties include Ribolla Gialla from Italy and Slovenia, Rkatsiteli from Georgia and Pinot Grigio. Grapes with rich flavours and thick skins are especially good for the production of orange wine.

Although flavours can range hugely between orange wines, they aren’t generally very sweet and the tannin means that some can taste a little like a dry red wine where others are even likened to sour beers. Some tasting notes you might expect from them include hay, stone fruits such as apricot, dried flowers, and often a honeyed or nutty taste. Its complex flavours set it apart from other wines and where it can be some people’s favourite, its flavour profile also makes it polarising.

Orange wine pairings

Orange wine is exceedingly versatile when it comes to food pairing due to both its aesthetic appeal and striking flavour palate. Foods that don’t always pair well with wine make great partners for orange wine due to its boldness, and the tannin which can cut through strong flavours. For example, orange wine can make a great pair for spicy foods, like curries or noodles. It also pairs well with fermented and pickled foods like kimchi or daikon, making it a great choice for Korean and Vietnamese food pairings.

A current favourite for many restaurants is pairing orange wine with small plates. Its aesthetic value shouldn’t be underestimated and if you’re planning a dinner with plenty of sharing platters, an orange wine is beautifully complimentary to table setting. It also lends itself well to a sharing concept due to the flexibility of pairing it with a variety of differing flavours.Cheese platters, charcuterie or seafood are some great options. It could also be a fantastic pick for dinners with a specific cuisine as its versatility means it is not limited to a particular style of dish.

Orange wine may be something a little different, but it's fantastic ability to pair with bold flavours and make it the perfect sipper with an afternoon cheese plate, dinner or on its own. For those who haven’t jumped on the bandwagon just yet, it's definitely worth a try. More than just a passing trend, this peach tinted wine is intriguing not only to avid wine connoisseurs, but also those who may not normally dabble in the world of wine, encouraging curiosity on the subject as well as keeping an age-old tradition alive.

Shop our full range of Orange wines here.

Winzer Krems 'Orange' Grüner Veltliner 2022/23, Austria