Orange is the new white? Unique amber wine creates a buzz
(20 Oct 2017) LEADIN:
Orange is the new white for some wine drinkers in the United States.
The Orange wines made in New York's Finger Lakes region are lighter than reds and richer than whites.
And no, the wines are not made with oranges. The secret is fermenting white wine grapes with their skins on.
STORYLINE:
Harvest time in the vineyards of New York's Finger Lakes. Grapes are being picked for white wines, red wines … and orange wines.
Lighter than reds and richer than whites - orange wines are creating a buzz with their unique tastes.
Pretty outgoing characteristics. Very spicy, peppery, a lot of tea flavours, too, come through, says Vinny Aliperti, a winemaker at Atwater Estate Vineyards.
These wines aren't made with oranges.
The colour comes from fermenting white wine grapes with their skins before pressing – like red wine grapes. The wine takes on colour and flavours from the skins.
The ancient technique is being revived at wineries like Atwater Estate Vineyards in Burdett, New York state.
Many winemakers call them skin-fermented wines. That makes it clear to drinkers these wines come from the vine, not a citrus grove.
Oh, it's better than a Chardonnay, actually, says Callea Teumer, who's trying a sip in Atwater's tasting room
Actually, I wasn't sure because of the colour, but it has a really nice flavour, says taster Debbie Morris.
Bottles can retail for $30 USD to over $100 USD, but even enthusiasts note the wines are not for everyone.
They're more thoughtful wines, they're more meditative. They have a lot of levels of flavours, a lot of flavours that are not normally found in table wine, says Aliperti.
An old school, old world technique that we're really just sort of breathing new life into.
Production remains small worldwide ... a splash of orange in a sea of reds and whites.
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