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Cos'è il vino arancione?

What is orange wine?

Pronunciation

Arancione: ah-ran-CHOH-neh. Four syllables — the colour orange as an adjective.

When to use it

Ask in wine bars (enoteca) or at producers in Friuli, Emilia, or Sicily. Orange wine is trending globally and Italy is its spiritual home.

What it means

Vino arancione (also called vino ramato or vino ambrato) is white wine made with extended skin contact — like red wine production. The tannins and pigments from the skins give an amber/orange colour.

Variations

È un bianco macerato sulle bucce?

Is it a white macerated on the skins?

The technical description — macerato sulle bucce.

Ha più struttura di un bianco normale?

Does it have more structure than a normal white?

Yes — skin contact adds tannins and body unusual in whites.

Si abbina bene con i piatti speziati?

Does it pair well with spiced dishes?

Orange wine's tannic structure handles spice well.

Mini Dialogue

— Cos'è il vino arancione? — È un bianco prodotto come un rosso. L'uva rimane a contatto con le bucce per settimane o mesi. — E per questo ha quel colore ambrato? — Esatto. E anche più struttura e tannini rispetto a un bianco classico.

— What is orange wine? — It's a white wine produced like a red. The grapes remain in contact with the skins for weeks or months. — And that's why it has that amber colour? — Exactly. And also more structure and tannins than a classic white.

Cultural Note

The modern orange wine movement was pioneered by Joško Gravner and Stanko Radikon in Collio (Friuli) in the 1990s, inspired by ancient Georgian qvevri winemaking. Today orange wine from Friuli commands global cult status and has inspired producers worldwide.

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