What is an Orange Wine?
Orange wine is something entirely different. Orange wine is a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, creating a deep orange-hued finished product.
How is it made?
Orange wines are the product of vinifying white grapes the way red wine is normally made. Instead of removing skins after grapes are pressed (as is standard for whites), the juice, called must, is fermented in contact with skins. The must then colours the juice and gives it a tannic structure and a bitterness similar to a red wine. They end up becoming a bolder, more savoury version of the wine from the same white grape.
What does it taste like?
Orange wines can be a little bit of a shock at first to anyone used to clear, pale-coloured, fruity white wines. Orange or amber wines tend not to be fruity but are complex, layered and structured, often with notes of dried fruit, herbs and spices, tea and a savoury umami quality. Don’t think about them as white wines but as a new style altogether.
How should it be served?
As with all wines, the flavours in orange wines are subtler when chilled and become more expressive as they warm up. If it is hot outside you will want them to be chilled and refreshing - so 10°C would be best; however, they are best served slightly warmer than a classic white and slightly cooler than a red so around 12.8°C.
Which foods pair best with Orange Wines?
Orange wines are bold and complex, and pair perfectly with foods like mushrooms, cheeses, asparagus and fennel, strong spices and nut flavours - as well as with tricky foods such as garlic and pickled foodstuffs! They’re especially great at pairing with dishes whose flavours might better match a white wine but require the fuller body of a red.
1 product
2022 Pyren Vineyard Little RaRa Roopa, Pyrenees (Orange Wine)
Regular price £11.99Vibrantly-labelled skinsy combo of Sauvignon Blanc and a blob of Pinot Grigio, this is hazy, natty fun but deliciously drinkable and clean.
Tasting Notes
A wonderfully perfumed orange wine, awash with jasmine, candied mandarin peel and sea spray. The palate transcends fruit and herbal components, with a lime cordial freshness, incorporating subtle spiced oak across a well textured tannin profile.
Producer
Brothers Brian and Kevyn Joy planted Pyren Vineyard in 1999, surrounded by state forest and farmland. Basking in the sunshine of the glorious Warrenmang valley in the Victorian Pyrenees the vineyard is now under the expert care of Brian’s son, winemaker Leighton Joy alongside viticulturist Graeme Miles. The vines, approaching 25 years in the ground, are producing better fruit than ever before, through a combination of maturity and evolving best practise in the vineyard and winery. The use of organic farming methods (though uncertified) and minimal intervention winemaking techniques underscores their dedication to preserving the natural integrity of the wines. The surrounding mountains play their part and Pyren is planted in an east-west orientation, providing invaluable shade to both fruit and the ground in the warmest part of the day. In winemaking terms, there is a staunch commitment to spontaneous, wild yeast fermentation. Subsequently, pressed wines are encouraged to talk, to generate character, and to evolve in the cellar.
According to Leighton “The intention is to meld the expression of high-quality fruit with integrity and artistic freedom, and the endeavour to fine tune the best style for the fruit is a continuous one”. This philosophy has led to the creation of several unique wine ranges The Earthscape range seeks to express single grape varieties grown on quartz soils, in terroir-driven ways, while their “Little Ra Ra” wines have allowed Leighton to develop a more playful expressions of the Pyrenees. They also produce a Reserve, of their best fruit, traditionally crafted, and designed for aging. All in all Pyren are an ideal blend of innovative spirit and traditional reverence.
Production
Estate grown Sauvignon Blanc, farmed organically and hand harvested. 100% whole bunch carbonic fermentation is undertaken for a duration of 13 to 16 days, after which the wine is transferred to 500L French oak and Acacia barrels and left on lees or 3-4 months.
Sustainability
Composting and under vine mulch underpin an organic approach in the vineyard, where synthetic fertiliser and herbicide has long been abandoned. Although not certified organic yet the vines are organically farmed. The focus at Pyren is on soil health and biological diversity. Water use is managed thoughtfully as the property relies on its own catchment.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | Australia |
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| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Orange Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Pairs excellently with Asian dishes, especially Thai Prawn Curry |
| Pyrenees | |
| Appellation |
Pyrenees Victoria |
