We are familiar with red, white and rosé wine, but did you know that there is also orange wine? While the number of places offering orange wines is still small, it is a growing international trend. That is why we explain here what orange wine is.
What is orange wine?
Firstly, orange wine is not made from oranges. Rather, it is a white wine made from both the skins and juice of white grapes. Most of today's white wines come only from the juice, but the pigments in the skins add color, giving the wine different hues. That is why it is also known as white wine – the term orange wine mainly exists as a marketing tool.
How is it made?
Making wine this way is not new; it is a technique that dates back to the Caucasus, the oldest wine-growing region in the world. Orange wines are the product of the white wine grape produced the way red wine is normally made. Rather than removing skins after grapes are pressed (as is standard for whites), the juice, called must, is fermented in contact with the skin. This colors the juice, and gives it [tannin] structure and bitterness similar to a red wine.
How does it taste?
Unlike a Cabernet Sauvignon, the effect in orange wine is more subtle, like a strong brewed iced tea. Most orange wines taste like a more potent, more palatable version of [wines from] the same white grape. In general, orange wines exhibit “mild flavors of fruit, like peaches; tea flavors, such as strong oolong; and an impression of honey, without being really sweet.
What is the right temperature to drink orange wine?
As with all wines, the flavors in orange wines are more subtle when chilled and become more expressive as they heat up. Orange wines taste best when slightly warmer than a classic white and slightly cooler than red wine.
What do you eat with it?
Orange wines are bold and complex, but don't shy away from pairing them with food. They are especially good at pairing with dishes whose flavors can better match a white wine, but need a fuller red color. They also taste good with strong spice or nut flavours. Orange wine goes well with food from the Caucasus, Asia Minor and the Balkans. In most of those cultures, individual dishes are rarely paired with wines. Instead, a series of dishes are served simultaneously and several bottles are placed in the center of the table. These wines can handle this wide range of tastes well.
Is orange wine a new invention?
The first examples of orange wine originated more than 6,000 years ago in the Caucasus, in the area now known as Georgia.
