What is an Orange Wine? Everything You Need to Know
What is an Orange Wine? You may have been hearing about grape wine and every other type of wine but have you considered orange wine? Allow me to take you on a journey of enlightenment as I tell you everything there is to know about orange wine.
What is an Orange Wine?
Orange wine is a sort of white wine produced by prolonged contact with grape skins (and seeds) throughout the winemaking process. Tannin in orange wines causes them to taste more like dry red wines.
The Origins of Orange Wine
Orange wine is sometimes dismissed as a fad, however its origins can be traced back to ancient traditions. It dates back thousands of years to locations in modern-day Georgia.
Wines were fermented inside qvevri, which are enormous clay anfora (or urns) used to age wines. In fact, some wineries continue to utilize similar terracotta vessels today.
Modern-day orange wine-making has rebounded in the last 20 years, fueled by a small group of Italian producers (such as Josko Gravner in Friuli Venezia Giulia) who have embraced a return to these historic and traditional winemaking processes.
What Does Orange Wine Taste Like?
Like any other, the flavor of this wine will vary based on various conditions. The grape varietal, vineyard location, and winemaker’s distinctive style can all affect the flavor of orange wine.
The grapes used in orange wine make it taste more akin to other types of white wine. It typically leans more towards savory flavors than fruity and sweet.”
Naturally, one of the most essential considerations is how long the wine was in contact with the skin. Some orange wines are merely macerated for a few hours, resulting in a lighter, cleaner flavor and more muted hue.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, other orange wines can be macerated for months. These wines have a dark, vivid hue that borders on amber. These orange wines will have a more tannic and savory flavor profile.
Is Orange Wine the Same as Natural Wine?
They are not the same thing. Because of their increasing popularity among younger consumers, the two are sometimes confused.
Not all natural wines are orange, nor are all orange wines natural. However, both use similar methods and strategies. It largely comes down to the skins.
Grape skins not only add color and body to wine, but they also contain a distinct flora of native yeast. The air we breathe contains natural yeast, which adheres to the grape’s surface and eventually helps spark fermentation.
Natural winemakers rely only on this local yeast to produce their wine. That also applies to some, but not all, orange wine producers.
How does that affect the flavor? Consider the contrast between a loaf of sourdough and sliced sandwich bread. Commercial yeasts used to create bread and wine contain only one type of yeast, although hundreds of strains can be found in the air.
This yeast mixture produces a less uniform loaf of bread or bottle of wine, but the flavor is significantly more nuanced. More experimental kinds of orange wine may incorporate a fermented, kombucha-like funk.
This is why many people classify orange wine as natural wine—but it does not mean that all orange wine tastes the same way.
How Should You Drink Orange Wine?
Because it is officially a white wine, it is best served slightly cold. But, as expected, it is also determined by the amount of skin contact.
Lightly tinted orange wines can withstand colder temperatures of about 55°. Deeper, more powerful, and full-bodied oranges should be kept somewhat warmer.
The tannins from the skin are slightly astringent and can be rather unpleasant when cold. So, if your orange wine is on the darker side, attempt to drink it just below room temperature (about 65°).
Orange wines are extremely adaptable in terms of meal pairings, you can go a lot bolder, with curries, spices, grilled meats, and even strong cheeses.
Orange Wines Around the World
Almost 30 years ago, we began to see more orange wines from northeastern Italy, Georgia, and Slovenia on the market. It made a big splash around the world, and now they can be found everywhere! Here are some traditional places and producers to get you started.
Italy
The majority of orange winemaking takes place in northeastern Italy, near the Slovenian border in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Here you can find orange wines made from the region’s indigenous grapes, such as Sauvignon Vert (Friulano), Ribolla Gialla, and Pinot Grigio.
Josko Gravner, a winemaker from Italy, popularized the orange wine technique after making his first try in 1997.
Example Italian Orange Wine Producers:
1. Bressan “Carat” (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
2. Antonio Caggiano “Béchar” (Campania)
3. Donati Camillo “Malvasia dell’Emilia” (Emilia Romagna)
4. Frank Cornelissen “Munjebel” (Sicily)
5. Cos (Sicily)
6. Gravner (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
7. Edi Kante (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
8. Angiolino Maule “Sassaia” (Gambellara, Veneto)
9. Radikon (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
10. Rinaldini (Emilia Romagna)
11. Franco Terpin (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
12. I Vigneri by Salvo Foti (Sicily)
Slovenia
Goriška Brda (pronounced “Gore-eesh-kah Barda”) is a Slovenian region located near Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy.
Orange wine is a popular beverage in Slovenia, and it is frequently served in standard glasses similar to beer.
Motnik, another unusual wine, also lives here. Motnik is produced in barrels disinfected by smoking herbs like rosemary, bay leaves, and sage.
Example of Slovenian Orange Wine Producers:
1. Klinec
2. Movia “Lunar”
3. Prinčič
Georgia
Georgia is most known for its qvevri-aged wines. Qvevri (aka Kvevri) were the first vessels used for wine fermentation, with archaeological evidence reaching back to 6000 BC.
The clay pots are lined with beeswax and totally buried in the earth, where the temperature remains constant throughout the year. It causes a very sluggish fermentation, which intensifies oxidative tastes.
The grape of choice in Georgia for orange wine is Rkatsiteli (“kat-seh-telly”), which is recognized for producing wine with a vivid red-orange color.
Example Georgian Orange Wine Producers:
1. Pheasant’s Tears
2. Alaverdi Monastery “Gurjaani” in Kakheti
3. Our Wine in Kakheti
4. Tbilvino “Quevris”
5. Lagvinari “Goruli Mtsvane,” “Tsolikouri” and “Tsitska”
United States
Some of the most adventurous growers are beginning to develop natural wines and experimenting with the orange wine technique, particularly in New York, where the Rkatsiteli (“kat-seh-tel-lee”) grape variety is produced.
Example United States Orange Wine Producers:
1. Channing Daughters “Meditazione,” “Ribolla Gialla” and “Ramato” (New York)
2. Pax Mahle
3. Red Hook Winery “SK” series (New York)
4. Salinia
5. Scholium Project by Abe Schoener (Suisun Valley, California)
6. Shinn Estate Vineyards “Veil” by Anthony Nappa (New York)
7. Wind Gap Wines “Pinot Gris”
Australia
The most forward-thinking Australian winemakers have begun to develop orange wines predominantly from Sauvignon Blanc, which works well in this style.
Example Australian Orange Wine Producers:
1. BK Wines “Skin and Bones White” (Adelaide Hills)
2. Born & Raised Wines Sauvignon Blanc (Victoria)
3. Lucy Margaux Vineyards (Adelaide Hills)
4. Patrick Sullivan
France
In France, an area east of Burgundy produces rich orange-colored wines.
The Jura region (renowned for Comté cheese) produces nutty-tart wines such as Vin Jaune (“yellow wine”) and Côtes du Jura.
Both of these wines are made in an oxidative manner using the rare grape Savagnin. While these wines are made using a slightly different procedure (pressing off the skins), they taste similar to orange wines.
Example French Orange Wines:
1. Vin Jaune (Jura)
2. Côtes du Jura (Jura)
3. Chateau-Chalon (Jura)
4. Gérard Bertrand “Orange Gold” Southern France
5. Jean-Yves Peron (Savoie)
6. La Sorga (Languedoc Roussillon)
7. Domaine Gauby “La Roque White” (Côtes Catalanes)
8. South African Sauvignon Blanc wine map by Wine Folly
South Africa
The Swartland region in the Western Cape is home to the majority of South Africa’s innovative winemakers, whose vineyards are quite old and grow less popular grape varieties.
Example South African Orange Wine Producers:
1. Intellego “Elementis”
2. Lammershoek “Cellar Foot” Series
3. Sadie Family Wines “Palladius”
4. Testalonga “El Bandito”
Austria
Just north of Italy’s orange wine heartland (in Friuli-Venezia Giulia), Austria is experimenting with orange wines made from a variety of grape varietals.
Example Austrian Orange Wine Producers:
1. Strohmeier (Steiermark)
2. Werlitsch “Amphorenwein” and “Werlitsch” (Steiermark)
3. Maria & Sepp Muster “Gräfin” and “Erde” (Steiermark)
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