Guide to Drinking Orange Wine: Orange You Curious?

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Let’s clear up one myth right off the bat: orange wine is not made with oranges. Also referred to as skin-contact wine or amber wine, orange wine is made from white grapes, with the skin of those grapes remaining in contact with the juice for days, weeks, and even—in some cases—more than six months. This time-honored technique imbues the wine with a beautiful color and a rainbow of singular aromas and flavors. At West Palm Wine Co., we advise serving orange wine cool to cold to amplify its character. Here are three distinct orange wines that exemplify this ancient, thirst-inspiring category.

2023 Furlani Altopiano Orange, Italy
Made with a grape called Müller-Thurgau that is very common in northern Italy, this wine has aromas of chamomile, Earl Grey, and baking spices. It is an ideal pairing for a warm, rich bowl of carbonara.

2023 Cirelli Orange, Italy
This lighter style of orange wine has subtle flavors of citrus and stone fruits. It is a wonderful wine to chill and enjoy poolside with a bountiful charcuterie board.

2022 Pheasant’s Tears Poliphonia, Georgia
Regarded as the birthplace of wine, the country of Georgia produces some of the most profound and meditative orange wines in the world. This wine shimmers an illuminating copper hue in the glass. Flavor wise, it is an anthem to umami. Pair it with a platter of your favorite sushi.