I've heard about Orange Wines, which I believe are made with white grapes with the skin left on. (Different from a rose made with red grapes). What can you tell me about this style of wine and is there anywhere I can find them in Dallas Fort Worth?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
You could consider so-called "orange" wines - and I'm not referring to those flavored with actual oranges - as either a recent fad led by a few eccentric winemakers or as an homage to wine's early origins. Some of the champions of orange wines also tend to use the word "natural" when referring to their techniques. This in itself is rather ambiguous, but they wish to convey that they intervene to a minor degree during the production process (of course, all wine requires intervention of some kind!). This particular school of winemaking calls for extended contact of the juice with the skins, very much the exception for white wines today. Hence the liquid takes on coloring from the skin, and often this is accentuated if the wine is exposed to more oxygen than usual. Also, the artists who are enamored of this approach tend to limit the use of sulfur dioxide, which keeps white wines from darkening in color. A few leaders of the "orange cult" are found in Italy's Friuli, and they have adopted the clay amphora - one of the earliest vessels for wine - for fermentation rather than stainless tanks or wood vats. You could look for the wines of Gravner or Radikon, either Pinot Grigio or Ribolla Gialla, to experience this unique nutty, honeyed and waxy taste. I don't see any current listings in Texas, but these two producers are available in other states. To say the least, these wines are not for everyone, but there is no denying their originality and departure from the ordinary world of white wine. Be prepared to pay a fairly hefty price for this artistry!
