What is Orange Wine? Taste, Pairing, and Top Canned Picks to Try Now

Orange wine has captured the hearts of sommeliers and natural wine lovers alike! With its warm amber hue, rich history, and bold, layered flavours, it’s more than just a passing trend. But what exactly is orange wine, and why is it sparking so much excitement?

You've probably spotted it on a wine bar menu, seen it highlighted by foodie influencers on Instagram, or enjoyed it at a dinner party; orange wine is surely here to stay. This guide will share everything you need to know about it.

What is Orange Wine?

Orange wine is a type of white wine made by fermenting white grapes with their skins, which is usually done for red wines. This process gives orange wine its lovely orange-amber colour, enhances its tannins, and creates a bold flavour often described as nutty. It’s a fun choice for those looking to try something a bit different!

Key Difference: Unlike rosé (made with red grapes and brief skin contact), orange wine is made with white grapes and extended skin contact, sometimes lasting weeks or even months.

The History and Origins of Orange Wine

Orange wine has a history that stretches back over 5,000 years to the Caucasus region, particularly in Georgia, where winemakers traditionally fermented their wines in qvevri, large clay vessels buried underground.

Today, these ancient techniques have seen a resurgence among modern winemakers across Europe, especially in Slovenia and northeastern Italy. Here, orange wines represent the spirit of the natural wine movement.

How Orange Wine Is Made

Orange wine boasts a distinctive flavour and structure, all thanks to its unconventional production process. Unlike typical white wines, orange wines adopt red wine-making techniques, utilising white grapes to create something special. The result? A wonderfully complex, bold, and occasionally quirky flavour profile that is sure to intrigue your taste buds!

Here’s how orange wine is typically made:

• Harvesting white grapes (such as Rkatsiteli, White Garnacha, Ribolla Gialla, or Pinot Grigio) at full ripeness.
• Fermenting the juice together with the skins and seeds, sometimes for days, weeks, or even months, unlike white wine, where the skins are usually removed immediately.
• Allowing natural oxidation during fermentation, especially when using clay amphorae or open-top vessels.
• Minimal intervention, often without added yeast, enzymes, or sulfites, is common in natural winemaking.
• Ageing in amphorae, oak barrels, or stainless steel, depending on the desired style and tradition.

What Does Orange Wine Taste Like?

Orange wine provides a lovely sensory journey, setting itself apart from the more traditional red, white, or rosé wines. With extended skin contact during fermentation, orange wines capture the robust tannic structure of reds while retaining the crisp acidity and freshness that whites are known for. This beautiful blend creates a bold, savoury, and often wonderfully complex flavour profile that invites exploration. 

Orange wine departs from the typical crisp citrus or floral aromas of many white wines, embracing instead rich, earthy, oxidised, and textured flavours. You'll often find notes of dried fruits, nuts, orange peel, and herbal tea, with some bottles even adding a playful hint of sourness or funk, reminiscent of natural or wild-fermented beverages.

The taste can be quite diverse, influenced by the grape variety, region, and winemaking techniques; however, orange wine tends to be dry, grippy, and aromatic, frequently leaving a lasting impression with its layers of flavours and distinct mouthfeel.

🔍 Flavour Profile Highlights of Orange Wine:

• Dried fruits: apricot, peach, orange peel
• Nuts & seeds: hazelnut, almond, brazil nut
• Oxidative notes: bruised apple, beeswax, sherry
• Herbal & savoury: black tea, linseed oil, juniper
• Fermented or sour tones: sourdough, kombucha, fruit beer
• Textural elements: tannic grip (like unsweetened iced tea), slightly astringent finish

How to Pair Orange Wine with Food

Orange wine shines not only because of its vibrant appearance but also because of its enjoyable character. With its warm amber hue, unique tannic structure, and blend of savoury flavours, it offers a drinking experience that’s both bold and thought-provoking. Its mouthfeel can be pleasantly grippy, much like red wine, while the refreshing acidity adds a lovely lift reminiscent of white wines. You’ll often discover enticing aromas of dried fruits, herbs, tea, and nuts, making it as intriguing as it is unconventional.

While orange wine is fascinating, its boldness doesn’t pair well with any food. Delicate dishes such as light salads, steamed white fish, or subtly seasoned meals can easily be overpowered by strong flavours. However, orange wine shines when paired with foods that have their own unique character and complexity, complementing their depth.

For the best pairings, look for rich, umami-packed, spicy, fermented, or textured dishes. Cuisines that offer layers of flavours, such as Korean, Indian, or Middle Eastern, work particularly well. Ingredients that are fermented, fatty, or have bitter and earthy notes, which might clash with traditional wines, often create a wonderful harmony with orange wine.

Best Food Pairings for Orange Wine:

• Spicy dishes: Indian curries, Thai stir-fries, Sichuan hot pot
• Fermented foods: kimchi, miso-glazed vegetables, pickled radish
• Umami-rich vegetables: mushrooms, roasted aubergine, caramelised onions
• Hearty legumes: lentil stews, chickpea tagine, white bean soup
• Charcuterie boards: cured meats, pâtés, aged cheeses
• Bold seafood: grilled octopus, anchovies, smoked salmon
• Cheese platters: washed-rind cheeses, aged gouda, pecorino
• Middle Eastern flavours: tahini, za’atar, labneh with olive oil

Top Orange Canned Wine You Can Try Now

If you’re considering giving orange wine a go and are looking for something convenient, canned wines are a wonderful option to explore! They're budget-friendly, eco-conscious, and perfect for picnics, casual dinners, or even a solo tasting session. Here are two fabulous orange canned wines that we’re excited to share with you:

Canetta Vin Orange Canned Orange Wine

Crafted by Francesc Boronat in the Tarragona region of Spain, Canetta Vin Orange puts a fun twist on natural winemaking with its ready-to-drink 187ml can. Made from Cartoixà de Marina grapes and featuring skin contact, this wine pours a lovely pinkish-orange and offers vibrant flavours of red berries, pink pepper, and Mediterranean herbs. It’s crisp, spicy, and a bit adventurous, the perfect grab-and-go orange wine for beach outings, snacks, or any time you crave bold flavours without the fuss.

🔍 Quick Facts:

• Grape: Cartoixà de Marina
• Country: Spain (Tarragona)
• ABV: 11%
• Volume: 187ml
• Serving Temperature: Chilled (12–14°C)
• Style Notes: Natural, skinsy, herbal-spicy, red fruit

Nania's Vineyard Orange Canned Wine

This English-grown Bacchus orange wine is a fresh, enjoyable sip that surprises with its complexity. After a 17-day carbonic maceration and wild fermentation, it presents a lovely grapey, floral aroma, with notes of elderflower and peach. You’ll find soft tannins and a core reminiscent of cherries. With an ABV of just 9.2%, it’s a great choice for those warmer afternoons or for pairing with lighter meals, proof that canned wine can be both nuanced and genuinely good.

🔍 Quick Facts:

• Grape: Bacchus
• Country: England
• ABV: 9.2%
• Volume: 250ml
• Vegan: Yes
• Style Notes: Fruity, floral, gently textured, low-intervention

Orange Wine Around the World

Orange wine might have ancient origins, but its impact is felt worldwide today. From the historic vineyards of Europe to the innovative cellars of the New World, winemakers are using skin-contact techniques to create wines that represent their local terroir, each with a unique character, structure, and story. Join me on a journey through some of the most exciting orange wine regions globally.

Italy

Italy shines at the heart of the orange wine revival! In the beautiful region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, creative producers are pioneering blends of traditional techniques and fresh ideas. Italian orange wines are celebrated for their bold and structured characteristics. Many of these wines are lovingly aged in amphorae or large oak barrels, showcasing the unique flavours of native grapes like Ribolla Gialla and Pinot Grigio, which will impress any wine enthusiast.

Notable Italian Orange Wine Producers

• Radikon
• Gravner
• Cos
• Donati Camillo
• Angiolino Maule
• Franco Terpin

Slovenia

Just a stone's throw across the border from Friuli, Slovenia is known for its remarkable orange wines, which complement everyday life. In the Goriška Brda and nearby regions, these wines are not just rustic and aromatic; they're crafted with lovely simplicity, often with minimal intervention. Each sip invites you to savour the region’s deep bond with nature and the time-honoured techniques that make these wines so special.

Notable Slovenian Orange Wine Producers

• Klinec
• Movia
• Prinčiz

Georgia

Georgia is often regarded as the heart and soul of orange wine, celebrated for its age-old tradition of using clay amphorae called qvevri, a practice that dates back over 8,000 years! The orange wines from Georgia are beloved for their unique earthy characteristics, robust structure, and fascinating history, typically made from local grapes like Rkatsiteli, making each sip an enjoyable experience.

Notable Georgia Orange Wine Producers

• Pheasant’s Tears
• Alaverdi Monastery
• Our Wine
• Tbilvino
• Lagvinari

United States

In the U.S., a new group of winemakers is embracing orange wine as a key part of the natural wine movement. Particularly in places like New York and California, producers are experimenting with various white grapes and fermentation methods, creating lively and unique flavours that will delight!

Notable United States Orange Wine Producers

• Channing Daughters
• Red Hook Winery
• Pax Mahle
• Scholium Project
• Salinia

Australia

Australian winemakers, particularly in the regions of Adelaide Hills and Victoria, are bringing their unique creativity to the exciting skin-contact genre. These wines are usually juicy, fresh, and vibrant, often made from the wonderful Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon grapes.

Notable Australian Orange Wine Producers

• BK Wines
• Born & Raised Wines
• Lucy Margaux Vineyards
• Patrick Sullivan

France

France's Jura region might not be widely known for orange wines, yet it boasts a rich history of crafting oxidative whites that share flavours. Today, winemakers across the country are passionately creating orange wines that blend a touch of funkiness with elegant finesse.

Notable French Orange Wine Producers

• Vin Jaune
• Côtes du Jura
• Gérard Bertrand
• La Sorga
• Jean-Yves Peron
• Domaine Gauby

Austria

Austria's Styria (Steiermark) region has quietly become a favourite spot for skin-contact white wines. Produced with care using biodynamic methods and lovingly aged in amphorae, these wines are known for their exciting texture, rich minerality, and vibrant natural expression.

Notable Austrian Orange Wine Producers

• Strohmeier
• Werlitsch
• Maria & Sepp Muster

Conclusion

Orange wine is a captivating blend of ancient tradition and modern curiosity. If you’re wondering what orange wine is, it’s all about its unique production process, rich flavour profile, and increasing popularity worldwide. This style of wine turns expectations on their head and offers adventurous drinkers something special; it’s bold, textured, and incredibly expressive. Whether you're enjoying a can on the go or savouring a bottle from regions like Georgia or Friuli, orange wine invites you to broaden your taste buds and reconsider the possibilities of white wine.

FAQ

1. What is orange wine?

Orange wine is a unique style of white wine made by fermenting white grapes along with their skins and seeds, a process typically associated with red wine making. This skin contact is what gives orange wine its distinctive amber-orange hue, as well as extra texture, tannins, and a bold flavour profile. Interestingly, despite its name, orange wine isn’t related to oranges at all.

2. How is orange wine made?

Orange wine is created by letting white grape juice ferment with the grape skins and seeds for an extended period, ranging from a few days to several months. This traditional method, typically done in clay amphorae or neutral containers, helps extract tannins, colour, and intricate flavours, resulting in a dry, textured, and aromatic wine.

3. What does orange wine taste like?

Orange wine usually has a bold and dry flavour profile that combines savoury, fruity, and nutty notes. You can often taste hints of dried apricot, orange peel, tea, herbs, and a bit of an oxidative funk. With its tannic structure and complex character, it’s actually more like a light red wine than a typical white.