Orange Wine! How Funky.. But What's It Made From?
Orange Wine: A Unique and Intriguing Choice
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What is orange wine?
In the world of wine, there is a less familiar category that is gradually gaining recognition: orange wine. Contrary to what its name suggests, it does not come from oranges. Instead, orange wine is a unique and fascinating style of wine making that sparks the curiosity of both enthusiasts and connoisseurs.
The origins of orange wine can be traced back to ancient winemaking traditions in Georgia. The country is often considered to be the cradle of wine, with a viticultural history dating back over 8,000 years. In this ancient wine culture, orange wine was produced using a Qvevri, a large clay vessel, lined with a layer of beeswax and buried underground.
Orange wine is a maceration wine. Maceration is a process where solid substances, such as grape skins, soak in a liquid to extract flavors, colours, and other desired compounds. It can be made from any white grape variety. It is a white wine vinified like a red wine, which involves fermentation with prolonged contact between the grape skin and the juice. The colour pigments in the skin give the orange wine its distinct colour and unique flavour profile. Although the method itself has ancient origins, orange wine has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years as winemakers around the world have rediscovered and adopted this traditional style of winemaking.
Characteristics
Orange wine has more intense aromas than white wine, but also more body and texture and less acidity. There are also tannins in this wine, which come from maceration. However, these can vary depending on the grape variety, the terroir and the length of contact between the skin and the juice. The colour of the wine can vary from golden yellow to amber brown.
On the palate, these wines are renowned for their complexity, offering a wide range of flavours and aromas. Tasting notes can include hints of dried fruit, honey and herbs. Each bottle of orange wine is a unique experience, influenced by the winemaking techniques and the terroir in which it is produced.
Camille recommends – Blind Corner Orange
Blind Corner is a certified organic and biodynamic vineyard and winery in Quindalup, Western Australia. Owners Ben and Naomi Gould began producing wines from their sustainably farmed vineyard in 2009. They now farm 28 hectares of certified organic vines, all this while developing their natural ethic of minimising outside influences wherever possible.
The Blind Corner Orange is produced with Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blancgrapes, which are skilfully combined in a dynamic natural fermentation process. The grape skins are preserved throughout the process, providing delicious tannic complexity and a truly pleasing mouthfeel. The result is a wine with a slightly cloudy yellow-orange hue, a taste reminiscent of rainbows and a texture reminiscent of the sun.
This blend is enhanced by triple fermentation in neutral tanks using wild yeasts and, to round things off, the winemaker introduces a hint of estate-grown Cabernet.
This final touch allows your palate to fully grasp the message your taste buds are sending it.
Try the Blind Corner Orange for yourself - order online with fee EU and UK delivery
Article by Berlin Staff Writer Camille Neveu