Have you ever spotted a wine in a restaurant or wine shop that looked amber or even orange in the glass and wondered what exactly you were looking at?

If so, you’re not alone. Orange wine has become one of the wine world’s more talked-about styles in recent years. Despite the name, however, orange wine has absolutely nothing to do with oranges. Instead, it’s a unique style of wine made from white grapes using a winemaking technique that creates a wine unlike either traditional white or red.

The result is an interesting category that combines the freshness and acidity of white wine with some of the texture and structure typically associated with red wine.

So what exactly is orange wine, and why does it taste so different from the wines most people are familiar with?

What is Orange Wine?

At its simplest, orange wine is a wine made from white grapes that are fermented with their skins. That may not sound revolutionary but it’s actually the key to understanding the entire style.

When most white wines are made, the grapes are pressed and the juice is quickly separated from the skins before fermentation begins. This keeps the wine light in color and relatively low in tannins.

Orange wine takes a different approach. The skins remain in contact with the juice during fermentation, much like what happens when making red wine.

A useful way to think about it is this:

• White wine = white grapes, no skins
• Red wine = red grapes, with skins
• Orange wine = white grapes, with skins

You might also hear orange wine referred to as skin-contact wine, skin-fermented white wine, or amber wine. While these terms aren’t always used interchangeably, they generally describe the same basic concept.

How is orange wine made?

To understand orange wine, it helps to first understand how traditional wine is produced.

For most white wines, grapes are harvested and pressed. The juice is then separated from the skins and fermented on its own. This produced wines that are typically pale in color, fruit-forward, and relatively light in texture. Check out this blog post for a deeper dive into how white wine is made.

Orange wine changes just one step: the skins stay with the juice during fermentation.

As fermentation progresses, the grape skins contribute color, tannins, flavor compounds, and texture to the finished wine. Depending on the winemaker’s goals, skin contact may last anywhere from a few days to several months.

The longer the skins remain in contact with the wine, the more pronounced these characteristics become.

Orange wines can be made in a variety of vessels, including:

• Stainless steel tanks
• Oak barrels
• Concrete tanks
• Clay amphorae

Some producers continue to use traditional clay vessels buried underground, a technique that dates back thousands of years.

Because winemakers can vary the grape varieties, skin-contact time, fermentation methods, and aging techniques, orange wines can differ dramatically from one another.

Why is it called Orange Wine?

The name comes from the wine’s color, not its ingredients.

Depending on the grape variety and winemaking approach, orange wines might appear deep golden, copper colored, amber, or bright orange. The color can be striking, especially for people who have never encountered the style before.

Some winemakers actually prefer the term “amber wine” because they feel it better reflects the wine’s appearance and avoids confusion with fruit-based wines.

What does it taste like?

This is where orange wine becomes really interesting. If you’re expecting it to taste like a typical Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, you’re in for a surprise.

Orange wines often have flavors and aromas that feel more complex, savory, and textured than many conventional white wines.

Common fruit flavors might include:

• Peach
• Tangerine
• Baked apple
• Dried apricot

Savory characteristics of orange wine include:

• Baking spices
• Nuts
• Black tea
• Herbs

The most distinctive feature of orange wines is the texture. Because of the skin contact, orange wines often have noticeable tannins. While they usually don’t have as much tannin as a bold red wine, that can have a grip on the palate that most white wines lack.

Imagine a white wine with some of the texture and structure of a red wine. That combination of freshness, complexity, and texture is what makes orange wines so appealing to many wine lovers.

An Ancient Style

Although orange wine has become more trendy in recent years, it is far from a new invention. In fact, skin-contact white wines are among the oldest wine styles in the world.

Mary wine historians point to Georgia (the country, not the U.S. state) as the birthplace of winemaking. Archeological evidence suggests that wine has been produced there for thousands of years, and traditional skin-contact winemaking remains an important part of Georgian wine culture today.

Many Georgian producers ferment and age wine in large clay vessels called “qvevri,” which are buried underground to help regulate temperature.

In the late twentieth century, producers in northeastern Italy and neighboring Slovenia helped revive interest in orange wine. From there, the style spread throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and beyond.

Today, orange wines can be found everywhere from small wine bars to Michelin star restaurants.

What about food pairing?

One of the reasons sommeliers love orange wine is its versatility with food. Because it combines bright acidity with added texture and tannin, orange wine can pair successfully with foods that often challenge traditional white wines, especially foods that feature herbs or earthy flavors.

Some great pairings include:

• Roasted vegetables
• Grilled chicken
• Mediterranean cuisine
• Moroccan tagines
• Mushroom dishes
• Aged cheeses
• Charcuterie boards

If you’ve ever struggled to find a wine to pair with a flavorful vegetarian dish, orange wine may be the answer.

Not everyone falls in love with orange wine on the first sip. Its tannins and savory flavors can be surprising if you’re expecting a crisp fruit-forward wine. But for curious wine drinkers, orange wine offers a change to explore a style that is both ancient and refreshingly different.

If you’ve ever wished white wine had a little more texture or red wine could be a little more refreshing, then orange wine might be exactly what you’re looking for.