Orange Wines

Flip to page 150 in our new cookbook to see the Orange Wine pairings!

If you are looking for interesting, somewhat “geeky” wines to discuss or drink you should look no further than the wines of Friuli in Italy. Particularly of interest are the famed “orange” wines of the region. These wines are typically made from one of the oldest white grapes of the region, Ribolla Gialla. This grape has a darker yellow skin than other white grapes and when the winemaker chooses to make this wine more in the way others make a red wine (the color in red wines comes largely from skin contact with the juice during fermentation) the wine comes out with a rich, orange-ish color that gives it an appearance akin to a rich dessert wine.

Indeed, most newcomers to this style of wine tend to approach these wines with trepidation due to the murky orange appearance and before they taste them, their mind is telling them that the wine is going to be sweet. When they taste the wine, they are quite simply surprised. Rather than being sweet, the wine (which again is made more like a red wine) gives them the drying and overall dry sensations that they usually associate with red wines.

Because of this, these wines tend to be an acquired taste. But like most acquired tastes, once you get that taste, it becomes one of your favorites.

In my mind, the lead ambassador and wine maker for this style of wine, is Josko Gravner, who owns the eponymously named winery, Gravner. In addition to using the most traditional varieties of the area, he also employs the use of clay amphora for the ageing of his wines. Use of these ageing vessels is as old as winemaking itself. They help to maintain temperature of the wine during winemaking (which is good when you don’t use temperature controlled, jacketed vessels) and they also impart a somewhat soft, round note to the wines that Stainless steel never does and they aren’t as powerful in flavor as oak barrels.

Josko’s wines are astounding and unique and well worth searching out. Give them a chance and try them with a variety of foods and you’ll soon find a new favorite.

Andy Chabot, Food and Beverage Director

Flip to page 150 in our new cookbook to see the Orange Wine pairings!

If you are looking for interesting, somewhat “geeky” wines to discuss or drink you should look no further than the wines of Friuli in Italy. Particularly of interest are the famed “orange” wines of the region. These wines are typically made from one of the oldest white grapes of the region, Ribolla Gialla. This grape has a darker yellow skin than other white grapes and when the winemaker chooses to make this wine more in the way others make a red wine (the color in red wines comes largely from skin contact with the juice during fermentation) the wine comes out with a rich, orange-ish color that gives it an appearance akin to a rich dessert wine.

Indeed, most newcomers to this style of wine tend to approach these wines with trepidation due to the murky orange appearance and before they taste them, their mind is telling them that the wine is going to be sweet. When they taste the wine, they are quite simply surprised. Rather than being sweet, the wine (which again is made more like a red wine) gives them the drying and overall dry sensations that they usually associate with red wines.

Because of this, these wines tend to be an acquired taste. But like most acquired tastes, once you get that taste, it becomes one of your favorites.

In my mind, the lead ambassador and wine maker for this style of wine, is Josko Gravner, who owns the eponymously named winery, Gravner. In addition to using the most traditional varieties of the area, he also employs the use of clay amphora for the ageing of his wines. Use of these ageing vessels is as old as winemaking itself. They help to maintain temperature of the wine during winemaking (which is good when you don’t use temperature controlled, jacketed vessels) and they also impart a somewhat soft, round note to the wines that Stainless steel never does and they aren’t as powerful in flavor as oak barrels.

Josko’s wines are astounding and unique and well worth searching out. Give them a chance and try them with a variety of foods and you’ll soon find a new favorite.

Andy Chabot, Food and Beverage Director