Learn more about Orange Wine

Orange wine is a wine color in its own right, with its own history and its own particular method of production.

Like white wines, orange wine is made from white grapes. However, during the winemaking process, the grape skins are kept on, just as they are for red wines. This is known as the principle of pellicular maceration.

The longer the maceration, the more pronounced the orange hue. By the same token, a longer maceration time will accentuate the wine's aromas and taste, and also make it more tannic.

Georgia, the Cradle of Viticulture and Blanc de Macération

The first signs of wine-making date back more than 8,000 years to the Caucasus region of Georgia. In early Neolithic pottery, researchers have found traces of tartaric, malic, succinic and citric acids, the chemical signatures of grapes and wine. The Georgians were therefore the first people to domesticate the wild vine to make wine.            

Over the centuries, Greece and Romania (two countries with winemaking traditions dating back to antiquity), Slovenia and Italy would draw inspiration from Georgian winemakers by adopting their long maceration technique for white grapes.

And in the early 1990s, in parallel with the emergence of the natural wine movement, two Italian winemakers (Stanko Radikon and Joško Gravner) popularized white maceration wine. It went on to conquer Europe (France, Germany, Austria, Spain...) and the New World (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand...).

When to drink orange wine ? 

While orange wine is generally refreshing and perfect for drinking on a sunny summer's day on the terrace, it also goes very well with many dishes.

The more tannic orange wines are generally excellent with smoked fish and tasty cheeses. Mellower wines go well with seafood, poultry dishes and colorful vegetable salads.

Try our "Chenin Orange 2020" Orange Wine,
from Le Rocher des Violettes