On orange wine

You know…

In Florence, even the walls pour wine.

ou might have heard about the little windows uptown where you can get wine. They were created in medieval times during the plague, to ensure the Italians still got their wine without spreading the disease.

About a month ago, I was standing right in front of one. I had been told to try the orange wine. As someone who is not at all a regular drinker, I was so positively surprised by the taste and sensation of this wine.

Why write about orange wine?

In pursuit of beauty, I can’t deny the stories that wine carries. Being in such a soulful and artsy city like Florence, I wanted to experience this kind of fulfillment the Italians seem to have when it comes to this particular grapejuice.

A bit of context. Orange wine is not made from oranges. It’s a white wine made by fermenting white grapes with their skins on, just like red wine. This skin contact gives it an amber-orange hue, a slightly tannic mouthfeel, and bold, earthy, nutty flavors. Sometimes even dried fruit, tea, or spice. It’s ancient, natural, and a little rebellious.

Photo source https://www.vogue.com/

Orange wine isn’t new. It dates back thousands of years to Georgia, where it’s still made in traditional clay vessels called qvevri. The method spread slowly and saw a renaissance in the 1990s with natural winemakers in Italy (especially in Friuli), Slovenia, and beyond bringing it back.

Why it’s great

The experience of getting a glass out of the wall at Babae Florence was fun on its own, but the feeling of delight and surprise after having a first sip was unforgettable. It doesn’t fit neatly into the red/white/rosé boxes. It’s got the freshness of white wine plus the structure and complexity of a red. Most orange wines are made with minimal intervention. Wild yeasts, little to no added sulfites, organic grapes. It’s like drinking something alive and intentional. A bit rustic, a bit raw, very real. I also dare to say it’s a conversation starter. Put a bottle of orange wine on the table at a dinner party and there will be curiosity. You’re sipping centuries of tradition.

Next time you’re in Florence, find one of those tiny wine windows. Order the orange wine. Let yourself be surprised.

Just like this amber-hued wine, life is better when it’s a little unfiltered…

-Nina