What is orange wine?
Orange wine is white wine made like a red, with the grape skins left in the juice for days or months, which turns it amber and gives it a tangy, slightly grippy taste (no oranges involved).
Orange wine is having a moment on restaurant lists, but it is actually one of the oldest ways to make wine, going back thousands of years in the country of Georgia. Think of it as a fourth color: not white, not red, not rosé. It is an acquired taste for some people and an instant favorite for others.
- Tastes like
- Dried apricot, orange peel, tea, a little sour-beer tang
- Also called
- Skin-contact white, amber wine, ramato
- Price range
- About $18 to $35
- Serve at
- Lightly chilled, about 50 to 55°F
- Where to buy
- Independent wine shops, Whole Foods, online
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
How orange wine is made
Normal white wine is pressed right away, so the juice never sits on its skins. Orange wine uses white grapes but leaves the skins in, the same way red wine is made.
The skins add color, more flavor and a little tannin, the dry, grippy feeling you get from tea that steeped too long. That grip is what makes orange wine feel like a red and a white at the same time.
How to spot it on the shelf
Many bottles do not say "orange" anywhere. Look for "skin contact," "skin-fermented," "amber" or the Italian "ramato" (copper). Georgian bottles often mention qvevri, the clay jars they are aged in.
You will rarely find orange wine at a regular grocery store. Independent shops usually have a small section, often next to the natural wines, and staff love to talk about them.
What to eat with orange wine
Its tang and grip make it great with bold, savory food that confuses other wines: Indian curries, Moroccan tagine, kimchi, roasted squash, and funky cheeses.
It also works with a full Thanksgiving plate or a cheese board, because it has enough body for the heavy stuff and enough freshness for the rest.
How to serve it
Not as cold as a white. Take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before pouring. Too cold and the flavors go quiet; too warm and it can taste dull.
Some bottles are a little cloudy because they are not filtered. That is normal, not a fault.
Orange wines worth trying
Field Recordings Skins
about $22White blend
A friendly California intro to the style. Juicy and citrusy, with just enough grip to tell you it is something different.
Attems Pinot Grigio Ramato
about $20Pinot Grigio
Copper-colored Pinot Grigio from northeast Italy. Gentle skin contact, so it is a soft first step if regular Pinot Grigio is your usual.
Pheasant's Tears Rkatsiteli
about $22Rkatsiteli
The real Georgian deal, aged in clay jars. Tea, dried apricot and real grip. Try this one once you know you like the style.
Gulp Hablo Orange
about $18Spanish white blend
Fun, fresh and sold in a liter bottle, so it is a good one to share. Easygoing rather than intense.
Donkey & Goat Stone Crusher Roussanne
about $35Roussanne
A treat bottle from Berkeley. Rich and nutty, and a great match for roast chicken.
Keep reading
- What is natural wine?
- What is dry white wine?
- What are tannins in wine?
- What wine goes with Indian food?
- What wine goes with cheese?
Last checked 2026-10-04.