Orange wine, a glimpse into ancient viniculture

Sure, you’ve heard of red wine, and white wine, but orange wine? Meet this growing variety of wine that’s making some consumers excited for a new flavor experience.

Orange wine isn’t really anything all that different at its core. Also called amber wine or ramato, it’s a type of white wine made by extending contact with grape skins (and seeds) while it’s being made. The taste, however, is often close to a dry red wine because of the tannin, and can also have some unusual funk, in part due to the fact that many orange wines are also “natural” wines.

While you could certainly call orange wine a growing trend, it’s actually a glimpse into what winemaking was like thousands of years ago. Orange wine is also being hailed for its flexibility in pairings, going with some dishes that are difficult to match with white or red wine. It also can go well with dishes that are traditionally served with red wine, like beef, or white wine, like fish.

According to market research firm Datassential, orange wine is currently found on 1.1% of U.S. restaurant menus, a 32% increase over the past four years.

Click through the gallery to learn more about orange wine and see one restaurant that has it on the menu.