What Is Orange Wine? A Simple Guide
It's not made from oranges
Let's get that out of the way immediately. Orange wine has nothing to do with oranges, citrus fruits, or anything you'd find in a juice carton. It's made from regular white grapes. The orange part? That's the colour — and it comes from how the wine is made, not what it's made from.
If you've seen amber-tinted bottles popping up in wine bars and independent shops and thought "what is that?", you're not alone. Orange wine is one of the most talked-about styles in the wine world right now, and it's a lot less weird than it sounds.
So how does it actually work?
Here's the short version. When you make a normal white wine, you press the grapes and get rid of the skins straight away. The juice ferments on its own, and you get a clear, pale wine.
Orange wine does it differently. The white grapes are left to sit with their skins and seeds for days, weeks, or even months — a bit like how red wine is made. The skins give the wine its colour (ranging from golden amber to deep copper) and add texture and flavour that you don't get in a typical white.
That's it. No additives, no food colouring, no weird science. Just grapes and time.
What does orange wine taste like?
This is where it gets interesting. Orange wine doesn't taste like white wine and it doesn't taste like red wine. It's its own thing.
Expect something with more body and texture than a white — there's a slight dryness on your tongue, kind of like when you drink strong tea. Flavour-wise, you might pick up dried apricot, honey, nuts, or a bit of spice. Some are light and refreshing, others are richer and more savoury. It really depends on the grape, the producer and how long the skins were in contact.
The best way to think about it: if white wine is crisp and clean, and red wine is bold and full, orange wine sits somewhere in between — with its own personality entirely.
Is orange wine natural wine?
Not automatically, but there's a strong overlap. The skin-contact method is an ancient technique — it's actually how wine was originally made thousands of years ago in Georgia (the country, not the US state). Many natural and low-intervention winemakers have embraced orange wine because it fits the philosophy of letting the grapes do their thing with minimal interference.
Most orange wines you'll find at Natty are natural or low-intervention. Made with organic grapes, fermented with wild yeasts, and produced without the long list of additives that go into mass-produced wine. If you're new to natural wine in general, our wine collection is a good place to start exploring — and you can always pair a bottle with some snacks from our deli to make an evening of it.
What to eat with orange wine
This is where orange wine really earns its place. Because it has more texture and complexity than a standard white, it can handle food that would normally call for a red.
- Spicy food — Thai curries, Korean fried chicken, anything with chilli. Orange wine loves heat.
- Cheese — hard cheeses, aged cheddar, or a proper cheese board. The texture of the wine matches the richness of the cheese.
- Charcuterie and cured meats — a classic pairing. Grab some snacks from Natty and you're sorted.
- Middle Eastern and North African food — tagines, falafel, hummus, roasted aubergine. The earthy, savoury notes in orange wine are made for this.
- Roasted vegetables — squash, sweet potato, root veg. Autumn on a plate, autumn in a glass.
Honestly, orange wine is one of the most food-friendly styles going. If you're not sure what wine to bring to a dinner party and you don't know what's being cooked, grab an orange wine. It'll work.
How to serve it
Slightly chilled — not fridge-cold, not room temperature. About 20 minutes out of the fridge is the sweet spot. This lets the flavours open up without losing the freshness.
And don't worry if it looks a bit cloudy or hazy. Many orange wines are unfiltered, which means tiny natural particles are still in the bottle. That's not a flaw — it's a sign the wine hasn't been stripped of its character.
Try it yourself
If you're curious, Balido by Other Wines is a great starting point — a skin-contact blend of Trebbiano and Petit Manseng from Uruguay. It's approachable, interesting and won't scare anyone off. An easy way to see if orange wine is your thing.
And if it is? There's a whole world of skin-contact wines to explore. Browse our orange wine collection — we keep adding bottles as we find ones we love.
Browse the full wine collection
Quick answers
Is orange wine the same as rosé?
No. Rosé is made from red grapes with brief skin contact. Orange wine is made from white grapes with extended skin contact. Different grapes, different process, different result.
Does orange wine taste like oranges?
No. The name refers to the colour, not the flavour. You might get notes of dried apricot or honey, but it won't taste like citrus fruit.
Is orange wine good for beginners?
It can be. Start with a lighter, more approachable bottle. If you enjoy trying new flavours and don't mind something a bit different from your usual glass of white, you'll probably enjoy it.
Should orange wine be chilled?
Yes — serve it lightly chilled, around 12-14°C. About 20 minutes out of the fridge hits the mark.
Where can I buy orange wine in Bristol?
Right here. Natty stocks orange and skin-contact wines from independent producers like Other Wines, available for same-day delivery across Bristol or click and collect from our Bedminster shop.
