Orange Wine 101: What It Is, How It Tastes, and the Orange Wine Bottles to Know: BriCember Day 5
Welcome back to Bri Books! In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of orange wine, one of the oldest and most misunderstood wine styles in the world. Discover what orange wine really is, how it’s made, how it tastes, and why Austrian and Georgian producers excel at this method.
Orange wine is often misunderstood and framed as trendy, extreme, or niche. In reality, orange wine is one of the oldest winemaking methods in the world, rooted in skin-contact fermentation of white grapes. At the annual Orange Glou Orange Wine Fair, that history was fully on display.
What Is Orange Wine?
Orange wine is white wine made with extended skin contact. This method:
adds tannin and texture
deepens color
highlights place and farming
Inside the Orange Glou Wine Fair
Hosted by Orange Glou founder Doreen Winkler, the fair brought together nearly five dozen producers and importers from around the world.
What stood out wasn’t extremity — it was clarity. Wines that felt bright, meditative, easy to drink, or deeply structured all existed side-by-side.
Orange Wine Producers & Bottles to Know
I also share highlights from the Orange Glou Wine Fair, including some of my favorite importers and bottles:
D-I Wine (Alsace, France): Domaine Brand’s Tout Terriblement (100% Gewurztraminer)
Donkey and Goat Winery (California): Elen Ridge Vineyard Stone Crusher (Roussanne)
8000 Vintage Selections (Georgia): Nikalas Marani Rkatsiteli 2020 and Vellino Wines Kisi 2020
Plus, we explore standout Austrian orange wines:
From Styria, hillside wines from producers like Werlitsch and Strohmeier emphasized cool climate acidity, hand-worked vineyards, and contemplative texture. Here are my practical tips on how to taste, serve, and enjoy orange wine, and why it’s so food-friendly. Whether you’re new to orange wine or already a fan, this episode is your guide to tasting something different!
How to Drink Orange Wine
Serve slightly chilled
Use white or universal glasses
Pair with vegetables, grains, poultry, and cheese
Let the wine open slowly
Orange wine rewards patience and curiosity. Orange wine isn’t about shock value. It’s about expression, farming, and time. If you want to understand orange wine, taste widely — and start with places like the Orange Glou Wine Fair, where the category is treated with seriousness and joy.
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