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So, what exactly is Orange wine? And why is everyone talking about it?

Orange wine is like the quirky cousin of white wine that shows up at family reunions wearing vintage clothes and talking about natural fermentation. Despite the name, orange wine has nothing to do with actual oranges. Instead, it’s made from white grapes, but with a twist: the skins and seeds hang around during fermentation. This gives the wine its bold, amber color and unique flavors.

The process is pretty simple: mash up white grapes, toss them into a large vessel (usually made of cement or ceramic for that old-world vibe), and let nature do its thing. The juice and skins party together anywhere from a few days to over a year. The longer they mingle, the deeper the color and funkier the flavors.

Unlike typical white wines, which are light and crisp, orange wines get their personality from oxidation and skin contact. They often taste a bit sour and nutty, like someone mixed a little tang with earthy flavors. Because the process is so natural (with minimal additives or even yeast), every bottle can taste a bit different – which is part of the fun.

Sometimes, you’ll hear the word “Ramato,” which refers to a coppery-hued Italian Pinot Grigio made in this orange wine style. Basically, it’s white wine that took a walk on the wild side and came back wearing auburn.

In short, orange wine is not for everyone, but if you’re into trying something that’s a little funky and full of character, it’s worth a sip!

Here are some of our staff picks ranked from dipping your tow into the category all the way to jumping into the deep end without floaties.

Our pick for entry level: Field Recordings Skins: A crisp orange wine perfect to pair with spicy foods, springtime and … well, anything. It will make you a believer in non-red wines. We use a mix of white grapes from different vineyards that we de-stem and ferment on skins, resulting in a beautiful showcase of all the delicate flavors of white wine, but with more substance and texture.

TASTING NOTES
Fresh apricot, white peach, Haitian orange, honeysuckle, marzipan

PAIRS WITH
Bleu cheese, duck sausage, dried fruit

In between pick Dinamo Orange: Moderately aromatic and vibrant orange wine. On the nose, it reveals notes of apricot and candied orange, complemented by a hint of white flowers. On the palate, its texture is light and refreshing, with a balanced acidity that enhances the fruity flavours. Perfect for those seeking a different and easy-to-enjoy option.

Our pick for Deep end very funky: Forlone hope Queen of the Sierra Amber: Composed primarily of Verdelho, Albariño, Muscat, and Chardonnay, this beautifully nuanced and irreverently elegant wine shows all of the aromatic complexity and textural presence that are the hallmarks of wines grown on the limestone of our estate.

All fruit for our estate amber blend is hand-picked; fermentation occurred in open top vessels with some fruit being destemmed and some left whole bunch. For the most part we tried to minimize oxidization during cap management, with one punchdown or pumpover per day the typical regimen.