Orange wine is a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice in a large vessel made of cement or ceramic, creating an orange-colored hue. This is a natural process that uses little to no additives that dates back to 6000 B.C. in the wine producing country of Georgia. Today, orange wine is produced in multiple regions such as Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Portugal, California, France, South Africa, Australia and more.
Due to the natural wine making process, orange wine tastes very different from regular white wine. Orange wines have been described as full bodied and bold with flavors such as jackfruit, hazelnut, bruised apple, juniper, sourdough and dried orange peel. On the palate, they are big, dry and contain tannins similar to a red wine.
The boldness of orange wines makes it pair well with equally bold foods. Dishes such as curry, Moroccan, Ethiopian, Korean and Japanese are excellent compliments. Orange wines also pair well with a wide variety of meats such as beef and even fish.
Orange wine isn’t only trendy, it’s educating a new generation of wine drinkers to learn more about what they’re drinking. Manufacturers are constantly introducing new flavors within beverage alcohol to attract new consumers. New flavors increase the curiosity of individuals to taste them which in turn increases demand. In the case of orange wine, something very old is new again.
