Orange Wine: 5 South African Varietals To Try Now

It’s a wine trend that has been gathering momentum. So when we heard from a foodie colleague travelling abroad that the coolest London winelists have whole sections dedicated to these amber-hued beauties, we thought it was time for a wine-tasting round-up of South Africa’s finest orange wines.

So, what exactly is orange wine?

No oranges are squeezed in the making of this vino! Essentially, orange wines use white-wine varietals that are given extended skin contact (from a few days to a few months). This results in a more intense colour – in a variety of hues from pale amber to rich orange, sometimes even verging on pink.

All about the skins

Purists prefer to use the term skin-contact (or skin-fermented) rather than using the umbrella descriptor of orange wine. Skin-contact describes wines that are macerated with their skins for a short period (usually just a few days) before the juice is extracted for fermentation. This gives a lighter flavour and a more delicate amber hue. Skin-fermented, on the other hand, means the grape skins are in contact for a longer period during fermentation, resulting in bolder flavours, deeper orange colour and more tannin-rich wines.

Dry and intense

There are as many different flavour profiles as there are makers, but typically an orange wine has intense nutty flavours, punchier tannins (from the skin contact), high acidity and is generally dry. What foodies and chefs love about them is that they pair well with bold flavours that overwhelm more delicate white wines – think dim sum, Korean dishes with kimchi, slow-roasted lamb, mature cheeses, curries and spicy tagines.

5 orange wines to try

In South Africa, orange wines tend to be small-batch vintages made by experimental avant-garde winemakers. Swartland, we’re looking at you! Made in small quantities they tend to sell out fast, so grab them when you see them. These are a few to look out for:

Bosman Fides Grenache Blanc 2019

From a single vineyard of grenache blanc bush vines planted in 2011, this wine is naturally fermented for three weeks with skin contact. Described as tasting of bruised apple, pot pourri and candied peel, this one ages well for 3 to 7 years. 13.5% alcohol
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Intellego Elementis 2022

From old, unirrigated chenin blanc bush vines planted in 1988, cutting-edge winemaker Jurgen Gouws uses minimal intervention in this wine from Abbotsdale in the Swartland. Fermented on the skins for 14 days in open tanks, it’s described as electric and tense with exotic citrus notes and a fine powdery tannin. 12% alcohol.
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Myburgh Bros Kaalgat Steen 2022

From an organically and dry-farmed heritage chenin blanc vineyard planted in 1982, this is an experimental vintage from Tyrrell Myburgh of Joostenberg Wine Estate near Paarl. It’s refreshing with aromas of bruised apples, ginger and kombucha and at 10.5% is relatively low in alcohol.
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Badenhorst Secateurs Riviera 2022

Another old chenin blanc vineyard next to a dry river, and blended with bukettraube, sauvignon blanc and roussane at Kalmoesfontein, Adi Badenhorst’s home of experimental and terroir expressive Swartland wines. A complex aroma profile has grapefruit, quince and spice flavours with a grippy refreshing tannin mouthfeel. 12.88% alcohol.

Thorne & Daughters Tin Soldier 2022

This is a hand-crafted Swartland skin-fermented semillon gris, a varietal almost unique to South Africa. A week’s skin fermentation gives bright copper hues, aromas of ripe apricot, basil, nutmeg and toasted pistachio with an interplay of savoury and sweet. 12.8% alcohol.
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Enjoy them with food, savour the robust flavours and hold your glass to the light to enjoy the glowing charm of this experimental and adventurous class of orange wines.

Have you tasted any fabulous orange wines? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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