Orange Wine
Just what is Orange Wine?
I’ve heard all kinds of things in my time and I guess you’d be forgiven for thinking it was wine made from oranges. Alas, it is not (although I wonder what that would taste like).
Orange wine is in-fact white wine that has had skin contact. However, I’ve broken it down to give you an idea of what you can expect form this very trendy drink.
Skin contact?
To make a white wine, you press the grapes to reveal the grape juice. The juice is then fermented with yeast and out pops a wonderful white.
To make a red wine, you press the grapes to reveal the grape juice, and then leave the juice on black grape skins. The black grape skins contain colour, tannins and flavour. The skins can be in contact with the juice for hours, days, weeks, whatever the producer decides. Skins are then separated from the juice and the juice is fermented with yeast and…out pops a ravishing red.
Orange wine is the process of letting the juice sit on white grape skins - hence the orangey, pinky, grey hue of the drink. White grape skins also include tannin and flavour, which means this is a white wine with tannin.
It’s different to rosé which is the same process as red wine (contact with black grape skins), but just minimal skin contact with the black grape skins.
Ok ok, it’s a little more complicated than that…but that’s the very basics.
So what can I expect?
Again, it will depend on the grape variety. The wine I have pictured is the Pinot Grigio Orange Wine from Renegade Urban Winery . This tastes of freshly picked summer fruits; Strawberry, cherry, raspberry, a peppery spice on the finish and a soft, well structured tannin.
If I’m going to over simplify it again and probably confuse the socks off you - you can expect a white wine with the structure of a red, but without the sweetness of a rosé. Sounds…interesting right?
Drop me a message if you know of any good Orange Wines to enjoy, or let me know your thoughts if you have tried it. I get the feeling this type of wine could become a love it or hate it.