WHAT ARE ORANGE WINES ANYWAY?

Orange wines are a unique and ancient style of wine made from white grapes, but with a winemaking process more typical of red wines. Here’s how they differ:

### Production Process:
– **Grape Skins Contact**: Unlike traditional white wines, where the grape skins are removed before fermentation, orange wines are made by fermenting white grape varieties with their skins and seeds. This process, known as skin-contact fermentation, is similar to how red wines are made.
– **Extended Maceration**: The grapes are left to macerate (soak) with their skins for days, weeks, or even months, which imparts more color, tannins, and flavors to the wine.

### Characteristics:
– **Color**: The contact with the grape skins gives orange wines their distinctive amber or orange hue.
– **Flavor Profile**: Orange wines typically have a more robust and complex flavor profile than standard white wines. They can exhibit notes of dried fruits, nuts, tea, honey, herbs, and spices. The tannins from the skins also add a textural element similar to red wines.
– **Aroma**: These wines often have aromatic qualities that are different from both red and white wines, sometimes featuring earthy or oxidative notes.

### Historical Background:
– **Origins**: Orange wine production dates back thousands of years, particularly in regions like Georgia in Eastern Europe, where this technique has been used since ancient times.

### Modern Popularity:
– **Revival**: In recent years, orange wines have seen a resurgence in popularity among winemakers and wine enthusiasts, particularly those interested in natural and minimal-intervention wines.

Overall, orange wines offer a unique tasting experience, combining elements of both red and white wines, making them an exciting choice for adventurous wine drinkers.