Orange wine might sound like a quirky new trend, but it’s actually an ancient style of wine that’s making a well-deserved comeback. If you’ve heard about this amber-hued wine and are wondering what all the fuss is about, we uncork everything you need to know about orange wine, from its deep-rooted history to its unique flavours and the best pairings.

Orange wine is a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice…

What Is Orange Wine?

If you thought orange wine was made from actual oranges, sorry to disappoint. This unique wine’s name refers to the colour and not the citrus fruit.

Orange wine is a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, a process known as skin maceration. This gives the wine its distinct colour, which can range from golden yellow to deep amber hues, depending on the grape and winemaking process. Common grape varieties used in making orange wine include Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, though it can be made from nearly any white grape.

Tasting notes can range from ripe stone fruits like apricots and peaches to more savoury notes like nuts, honey, and hints of spice.

Orange wine and Rosé are often compared because of their unique colours, but the two are worlds apart considering flavour profiles and how they’re made. While Rosé is pink due to the limited contact with red grape skins, orange wine’s colour comes from the prolonged contact between white grape skins and juice, extracting colour, tannins and flavours from the skins during the winemaking process.

Why the Sudden Popularity?

Orange wine’s origins can be traced back thousands of years to what is now modern-day Georgia — the country, not the U.S. state. Here, winemakers traditionally fermented white grapes in large earthenware vessels called ‘qvevris,’ burying them underground for months to develop complex flavours. This ancient method spread across the Mediterranean and eventually found its way into regions like northeastern Italy and Slovenia, where it continued to be crafted over the centuries, and later, the rest of the wine world…

Winemakers traditionally fermented white grapes in large earthenware vessels called ‘qvevris,’ burying them underground for months to develop complex flavours.

This vibrant wine’s resurgence can mostly be attributed to the natural wine movement – which favours traditional, low-intervention methods of winemaking –  but also to curious connoisseurs looking for something other than the usual wine rack suspects.

This unique wine is often made with minimal additives, including little to no added sulfites. This natural approach results in a wine that reflects the terroir and the grape’s natural characteristics. Many winemakers also choose to forgo filtering, which can leave the wine slightly cloudy, but richer in texture and flavour.

What Does It Taste Like?

Bold, honeyed, acidic, stone fruity – in a nutshell… the flavour profile of orange wine can vary greatly depending on where it’s made, but you might encounter some common tasting notes. These wines tend to have more body and structure than your typical white wine, thanks to the tannins that come from the extended skin contact – a characteristic commonly associated with red wines. Tasting notes can range from ripe stone fruits like apricots and peaches to more savoury notes like nuts, honey, and hints of spice. You might also pick up on a slightly oxidative quality, giving the wine a bit of a sherry-like edge.

Orange wine often sits somewhere between a white and a red in terms of taste and style. While it has the freshness and acidity of a white wine, the tannins give it depth and complexity, similar to certain red wines. This makes orange wine a versatile option that appeals to both white and red wine drinkers looking for something new and different.

Orange Wine Pairings

When it comes to food pairings, orange wine is incredibly versatile. Thanks to its bold flavours and structured body, it can stand up to a variety of dishes.

Try it with rich, hearty foods like roast chicken, or even spicy, fragrant dishes like Indian curries and Asian-style dishes. The wine’s tannins and acidity also complement strong cheeses, charcuterie, and umami-rich foods like mushrooms and soy-based dishes.

Curious about orange wine? Make a meal of the experience and pair it with these dishes:

Roasted Pumpkin & ClemenGold Salad with Labneh & Dukkah

Creamy labneh pairs perfectly with the vibrant acidity of most orange wines.

Recipe for Roasted Pumpkin & ClemenGold Salad with Labneh & Dukkah

Roast Chicken with Garlic & Roasted Red Pepper Spreado

Smoky, buttery flavours in this roast chicken are great with bolder wines.

Recipe for Roast Chicken with Garlic & Roasted Red Pepper Spreado

Pork Neck Vindaloo

Orange wine can stand up to the heat from curries, making this vindaloo a great match.

Recipe for Pork Neck Vindaloo

Crying Tiger Steak with Nahm Jim Jaew Sauce & Pickled Cucumber

Savour the spice of this Thai-inspired dish with the flavours of orange wine.

Recipe for Crying Tiger Steak with Nahm Jim Jaew Sauce & Pickled Cucumber

Have you tried these lesser-known wine varietals?