To begin with, orange wine, also known as skin-contact wine, macerated wine, or amber wine, is produced all over the world—and, most significantly, it is not made from oranges. These golden-hued wines are white wines that have been vinified in a red wine style.

They ferment with the grape skins responsible for the wine's color. Skin-contact wines can range from golden-straw yellow to vivid amber to orange in color, based on how long the juice ferments with the skins. The time spent on the skins also lends these wines additional red wine characteristics, such as more body and tannin, while keeping the white wine's acidity. The deeper the skins are in contact with the juice, the more powerful and complex the wine becomes.

The quantity of contact between white grape juice and skins and seeds before fermentation significantly impacts the resulting wine's qualities. Because the grape skin contains many flavors and phenolic chemicals, skin contact improves the wine flavor and body of the wine.

Image Source: Tasting table, Orange Wine AKA Skin Contact Wine

Because the wine obtains its color from the skin, all red wines are skin-contact wines. When red grapes are squashed, the juice runs clear; it is only after it has soaked in the skins that the liquid turns red. Rosé gets its color via skin contact: The pink color of rosé comes from a brief soak with the skins, typically as little as 12 hours.

The 2019 Chardonnay trial comprised a wine made from crushed and destemmed fruit that received 72 hours of pre-fermentation skin contact and juice from whole-bunch pressing, which may be compared to wines made from crushed destemmed fruit with no further skin contact. A batch of crushed and destemmed fruit was also fermented on skins to produce an "amber" wine.

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Skin contact wine is a trendy oddity that is gaining popularity. Skin contact wines are one-of-a-kind and appear to be too cool for school, but one sip and you'll realize you've been invited to the party all along. Picnics, cocktail hour, an aperitif before a meal, or over a light lunch may all be enjoyed with these fruit-forward wines. The more serious ones go best with richer fish dishes or white meats at the dinner table (pork and turkey both work well). They also go well with mild spices like cumin, cloves, and peppercorns, so consider cumin, cloves, and peppercorns.

Orange wine has become a popular category in recent years, and it can now be found in a variety of nations. Orange wines are "natural wines," meaning they are grown organically or biodynamically and made with little intervention. Most orange winemakers utilize only local yeast (no inoculation) and minimal or no sulfites. Orange wines are also low in alcohol and have a light body. Orange wines can be delicate and fruity, oxidized (nutty or cooked fruit notes), sour (like a sour beer), or solid and complex, depending on the time spent on the skins and the fermenting procedure.

The color may entice drinkers, but the complexity orange wine adds to classic white grapes keeps them returning for more. Let us look at some of the best orange wines to try this 2022 

Gravner Breg Anfora Bianco, Field Recordings Skins, Gotsa Wines Rkatsiteli Mtsvane, Donkey & Goat Ramato Filigreen Farm Pinot Gris and Montinore Estate L’Orange 2018

Gravner Breg Anfora Bianco 

It doesn't get any better than this if you haven't had an extensively aged skin-contact wine before!. Even though they use an ancient method of vinification and maturing (amphorae) in many of their wines, the wines of Gravner belong in the extreme vain of winemaking. These long-aged bottles, produced by the legendary Gravner family in northern Italy, promise a mind-blowing experience for orange wine enthusiasts. The Breg is a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling Italico, and Pinot Grigio blend that has been macerated in amphora and matured in oak barrels for six years. Dried fruits, honey, orange blossom, and sweet spice characterize the wine's complex, gripping qualities.

Wine- Gravner Breg Anfora Bianco 

Winery- Gravner

Region- Italy / Friuli-Venezia Giulia / Venezia Giulia

Grape varietal- Ribolla Gialla

Alcohol content- 14.5%

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Field Recordings Skins

This widely available orange wine is made in the heart of California's Central Coast. Andrew Jones, the winemaker, has an excellent eye for gems in the rough: under-appreciated or undiscovered vineyards with enormous untapped potential. He aspires to make one-of-a-kind wines full of personality and offer a one-of-a-kind experience. With this skin-contact blend of Chenin blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, winemaker Andrew Jones aims for a more crisp and refreshing taste. The finish is thirst-quenching, with notes of apricot, orange blossom, and robust spices. 

Wine- Skins 

Winery- Field Recordings

Grape varietal- Zinfandel

Region- United States / California / Central Coast

Alcohol content- 12.1%

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Gotsa Wines Rkatsiteli Mtsvane

A fantastic wine from an exceptional land. For millennia, Georgia, the birthplace of wine, has traditionally produced wine. The wine is fermented in amphorae, or qvevri in Georgian parlance. In most cases, this method of winemaking is also very minimal: crushing grapes, placing grapes in the qvevri, allowing fermentation to occur naturally, no or very little addition of sulfite, and closing the amphora after fermentation so that the skin remains closed for several weeks to months, for both red and white wine. The skins rested on the wine for ten months in this Gotsa wine, giving it a prominent but complex aroma of ripe pear, orange zest, honey, almonds, spices, and much more.

Wine- Rkatsiteli Mtsvane

Winery- Gotsa Wines

Grapes- Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane Kakhuri

Region- Georgia / Kakheti

Alcohol content- 14%

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Donkey & Goat Ramato Filigreen Farm Pinot Gris

This Pinot Gris has a vibrant peach color that says it is not your typical Pinot Gris. The wine has a light body with exotic notes of dried flowers, apricot, and sea salt and smells like peach skin and prosciutto. It has a dense texture, considerable astringency, and a meaty flavor. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's enthralling nonetheless. The Biodynamic Filligreen Farm's Ramato (skin ferment) Pinot Gris is no exception. This wine has dimensionality and depth thanks to up to five days on the skins.This orange wine is aromatic, zesty, and perfectly crisp. On the taste, expect earthiness and umami, as well as barnyard sensations.

Wine- Ramato Filigreen Farm Pinot Gris

Winery- Donkey & Goat

Grapes varietal- Pinot Gris

Region- United States / California / North Coast / Anderson Valley / Mendocino County

Alcohol content- 13%

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Montinore Estate L’Orange 2018

Montinore Estate, founded in 1982, is the country's largest producer of certified estate wines made from Biodynamic grapes. The estate focus on making exceptional Pinot Noirs, cool temperature whites, and unique Italian varietals from its 200-acre Demeter Certified Biodynamic and Stellar Certified Organic vineyard in Oregon's north Willamette Valley. The Pinot Gris skins are soaked for 36 hours before gently pressing to give L'Orange its distinctive orange hue and structure. Clay amphora-fermented Muscat is blended in to bring out the beautiful aromatics.

Montinore L'Orange 2018 is your best bet if you're looking for a versatile, delectable orange wine to pair with almost any dish. Expect apricot, fresh flowers, and honeydew on the nose, followed by exquisite citrus and baking spice on the palate.

Wine- L’Orange

Vintage- 2018

Producer- Montinore Estate 

Grape varietals- Pinot Gris, Muscat Ottonel

Region- United States/ Oregon 

Alcohol content- 14%

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Article by Aakriti Rawat, Beverage Trade Network 

Header Image Source: Good pair days