Why is orange wine trending?
Quick answer
Orange wine is a white wine made like a red, with extended skin contact. This ancient technique (8,000 years old in Georgia) is enjoying a global revival driven by the natural wine bar scene and modern bistronomy.
Detailed answer
Orange wine — sometimes called 'amber wine' — is made by vinifying white grapes with extended skin maceration, the way red wines are traditionally made. Contact with the skins (from a few days to several months) gives the wine its characteristic amber colour and an unusual tannic structure for a white.
This technique is the oldest known winemaking method. It dates back to 6000 BC in Georgia, where wines were fermented in clay amphorae (qvevri) buried underground. The Friuli region (Italy) and Slovenia kept the tradition alive.
The flavour profile of orange wine is unique: dried apricot, walnut, honey, orange peel, and tea. On the palate, the texture is richer and more tannic than a classic white, often with a spicy finish.
The trend is driven by the natural wine movement and modern bistronomy. In 2024, orange wine sales rose 35 % across Europe according to Wine Intelligence. Trendy wine bars in Brussels now almost universally feature orange wines on their lists.
The most common grapes are Ribolla Gialla (Friuli), Rkatsiteli (Georgia), Pinot Gris (Alsace), and Savagnin (Jura). Prices range from 12 EUR for entry-level to 50 EUR for cuvées from recognised producers.
Orange wine characteristics
- White grapes macerated on their skins
- Amber to orange colour
- Aromas: dried apricot, walnut, honey, tea
- Tannic texture unusual for a white
- Origin: Georgia, 6000 BC