What Is Orange Wine?
Orange wine is having a moment, yet there’s still quite a bit of confusion surrounding this unique style of winemaking. Skin-contact vinification (otherwise known as orange wine) has been around since ancient times, and despite falling out of fashion for most of the 20th century, the style is coming back with a bang.
Curious to learn more? Check out the ins and outs of orange winemaking, plus five of our favorite bottles, here:
What Is Orange Wine?
Orange wine is a style of wine that incorporates vinifying white wine grapes using red winemaking techniques. Normally, white wine grapes are immediately pressed after harvest, meaning that they spend no time on their skins, whereas red wine grapes are crushed and macerated / soaked prior to pressing. This process of allowing the juice to remain in contact with the skins adds texture, tannins, and pigment to final wines. When done with white grapes, the resulting wines range in hue from light gold to dark copper and span a myriad of flavors.What Does Orange Wine Taste Like?
The exact flavor profiles of orange wines fall all over the spectrum, as grape variety, maceration time, and vinification techniques all play major roles in how a final wine tastes. Generally speaking, orange wines tend to have more weight than your average white wine and are marked by varying levels of tannins. Common flavors found in orange wines are bruised fruits, pithy citrus, fresh cut herbs, sweet spice, and beyond.Why Is Orange Wine So Popular?
There’s no denying that orange wine is certainly having its moment in the sun. These tasty wines are produced all over the world from a handful of interesting producers, and their versatility in style covers a broad spectrum of palate preferences. These wines are also somewhat of a happy medium between red and white, in that they’re textured enough to satisfy the bold red wine lover, yet also remain light enough on their feet to please white wine drinkers. Basically, when produced at the right hands, orange wines simply offer the best of both worlds!Which Type of Drinker Would Love Orange Wine?
Because orange wine is crafted from a variety of grapes and in a handful of different styles, there is truly an orange wine out there for everyone. For those looking for something intense and grippy, seek out an example that spends extended periods of time on the skins. For curious drinkers looking to get their toes wet, we recommend seeking out wines with shorter maceration times. Curious for further details on a specific wine we work with? Text your trusty Pocket Somm at 949-284-4917!When Should I Drink Orange Wine?
Orange wine is perfect for year-round sipping, though we especially love it in the summer. The wines’ bright and vibrant flavors are perfect for pairing with fresh summer appetizers, including grilled seafood, fermented kimchi, and Mediterranean-inspired mezze (hummus, tabouleh, and beyond).Ready to Try One?
If you want to start with something that gets orange wine exactly right, we'd point you to the NV Martha Stoumen Post Flirtation. It's a California skin-contact blend — 50% Vermentino, 47% Kerner, a little Friulano — that glows in the glass and smells like an apricot left out in the sun. Dried stone fruit, chamomile, tangy citrus peel. The kind of bottle that sparks a conversation at the table.
Martha Stoumen farms on California's North Coast and makes wine with a light hand. This one is the proof.
Shop the Martha Stoumen Post Flirtation Orange Wine ($30) →
Not sure where to start with orange wine more broadly? We're here for exactly that. Join Club Argaux and let our sommelier team steer you toward bottles you'll actually reach for again.
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