The cellar index

WineCollection 45

Orange & Skin-contact Wine

White grapes fermented with their skins create colour, tannin and a different kind of texture.

Origin & traditionGeorgia, northeastern Italy, Slovenia & beyond

Character & context

Understanding Orange & Skin-contact Wine

Orange wine is made from white grapes with skin contact; it is not made from oranges. Contact time, grape variety and vessel can produce very different wines, from gently textured to firmly tannic. Amber colour does not by itself prove oxidation or a fault. Skin-contact, natural and organic describe different things and should not be used interchangeably.

Further reading: Wine Folly — orange wine

Read related observations