We’ve all heard it before that wine comes in three colours: red, white, and rosé. End of story, right? Not quite. There is a fourth colour making waves in the wine world, and it’s as bold as it sounds: orange wine.
No, it’s not made from oranges, and there’s no ancient secret spice recipe involved either. Orange wine is actually a white wine with attitude; deeper in colour, more complex in flavour, and guaranteed to intrigue even the most traditional of wine lovers.
Curious? Good. Let’s dive in.
What Is Orange Wine?
Orange wine is made from white grapes, just like white wine. The key difference? Skin contact.
In most white wines, the grapes are pressed and the juice is quickly separated from the skins to keep it crisp, clean, and pale in colour. But with orange wine, those white grape skins are left to mingle with the juice, sometimes for days, weeks, or even months.
This process, known as maceration, extracts tannins, pigment, and bold flavours transforming the wine from pale gold to anything from amber to deep copper-orange. Think of it as the white wine version of a red wine technique.
What Does Orange Wine Taste Like?
Here’s where it gets divisive, orange wine is the Marmite of the wine world. You will either love it, or be left scratching your head.
Some say it’s reminiscent of a hoppy craft beer, others compare it to a strongly brewed black tea. It’s tannic, textured, and full of savoury, nutty, even funky notes. You might find flavours of dried apricot, orange peel, nuts, honey, or spice, often all at once.
It’s not your typical sipper, but that’s the fun of it. It’s wine that challenges the palate and tastes like a riddle you are not quite sure how to solve.
What Food Pairs with Orange Wine?
Pairing orange wine with food can be... a creative exercise. It’s not always obvious, kind of like trying to find a word that rhymes with "orange" but when you get it right, it sings.
Orange wine’s boldness makes it ideal for fermented, spicy, or earthy dishes.
Try it with:
• Kimchi dumplings (mandu) or Korean-style pickled dishes
• Mushroom risotto or lentil-based stews
• Artichokes, which are notoriously hard to pair
• Spiced North African or Middle Eastern dishes
In short: if it’s hard to pair with other wines, orange wine might just be your answer.
Orange wine isn’t just a trend, it’s a return to ancient winemaking techniques, now being embraced by adventurous drinkers and natural wine lovers alike. Whether you fall in love with it or find it totally perplexing, it’s a must-try for anyone looking to shake up their wine routine.
So next time someone says wine only comes in three colours, pour yourself a glass of orange and prove them deliciously wrong.
''At the end of the day, you really can’t make a wrong choice.
As long as you pay attention to what it is that you don’t like about a wine
each bottle will get you closer to what you do like.
Take it one glass at a time!''