Orange Wine And Why It's The New Best Thing
What Is Orange Wine?
This wine may be orange in color, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Usually, white wines are made as the grape skins are filtered out of the juice before the fermentation process begins. With wine that’s so-called orange, the skin is left in the barrel to ferment - hence the coloring.
Inverted rosé options of orange wine are available as well. These varietals are made of red grapes, but in this case, the skins are filtered out before fermentation. These rare wines are placed in a category known as skin-contact wines. These wines are usually presented in colors that range from pale yellow to blush-orange. The color depends largely on how long the skins are left to ferment.
Why Is Orange Wine Trendy Now?
Orange wine has hit the North American market by storm. However, this wine has been around for thousands of years. It dates back to the Bronze Age era in the country of Georgia.
For oenophiles, there’s always something new to sip on each season. They’re particularly keen on seeing what new wines will appear on menus and store shelves. This year, they’ll surely be indulging in the joys of orange wine.
Seasoned wine connoisseurs aren’t particularly interested in the so-called ‘lazy’ or less-refined process that’s the skin-maceration of the white grape - irrespective of how far back it dates. Naturally, it was almost a given that this wine would find itself riding a wave of success in counter-culture; appealing to the modern, everyday wine drinker.
What Does Orange Wine Taste Like?
Funnily enough, it doesn’t taste like oranges. Orange wine’s nutty flavor profile is sometimes labeled as tea-like. This is mostly thanks to the extra oxidation that takes place in the winemaking process. These wines are said to be far more robust in flavor than white wines and because of that, they’ll pair well with plenty of different foods.
Since there’s no definitive orange wine taste to date. Therefore, the fermentation of the grapes and skins will determine most of the taste profile. When it comes to the richness, more contact means more flavor.
