It’s time to forget about red and white: orange wine is here and will become the drink of the summer.
The “delicious and versatile” drink has taken social media, trendy bars and even UK supermarkets by storm, with retailers reporting a massive increase in sales compared to last year.
Surprisingly, orange wine actually has nothing to do with citrus and is made from white wine by extending contact with the skin of the grape, which creates its distinctive color.
Natural wine can be considered to be halfway between a white and a red, while the techniques for making it date back to around 5,000 years ago in Georgia, although it has only recently become popular in the UK.
Sales of orange wine on Ocado have soared 99 per cent this year – with searches also up 80 per cent – as the drink becomes the hottest drink for summer.
Forget red and white, orange wine is here to stay! Pictured: Mads, a London food blogger, drinks orange wine.
Christian Streatfield, wine buyer at Ocado, said: ‘Orange wine is becoming increasingly popular with our customers.
‘Unlike typical white wine production, the grape skins remain in contact with the juice during fermentation, producing complex flavors and textures, as well as that deeper color.
“The resulting wine is delicious and versatile, and has something to offer both red and white wine fans.”
And those on TikTok have flocked to the social media platform, desperate to try out the new viral sensation for themselves.
Daria Afshar bought a bottle of Solara Amber natural wine after seeing it trending on social media.
on a tiktok video she said: ‘I just saw this on Instagram and we were both really keen to try it.
‘It’s a little acidic but refreshing for summer. It’s as if Aperol were a wine. This is delicious: orange wine is your new summer drink.
A user based in New York, who posts under the username @sarabyoselfpredicted that “orange wine is officially the wine of the summer” while showing off his aesthetic setup with an orange bottle.
Daria Afshar reviewed orange wine on her TikTok account and compared it to Aperol.
One user from New York, posting under the username @sarabyoself, predicted that “orange wine is officially the wine of the summer.”
Kristina and her friends visited the newly opened Oranj wine bar in Shoreditch, which is now known for its selection of orange wines.
Those on TikTok have flocked to the social media platform, desperate to try out the new viral sensation for themselves.
Meanwhile Pink Liberty May He even tried making his own orange wine at home, although he used the fruit instead of the traditional method.
Others have filmed their reactions upon trying orange wine for the first time, while its unique color makes it the perfect photos for online influencers’ posts.
London hotspots have quickly jumped on the trend, and any popular wine bar is keen to offer a range for orange wine lovers.
The recently opened Oranj wine bar in Shoreditch is even named after the drink and offers a wide selection as well as reds and whites.
And Aldi was keen to get on board with the trend, starting to stock an “orange-pink” wine earlier this year, which it claims is the first to hit supermarket shelves.
The bottle of specially selected Rosorange hybrid wine, which sells for £9.99, has reportedly been flying off the shelves.
One description says that “it has all the personality of an orange wine, but unlike others of its kind, it has a pleasant softness, made possible by the addition of refreshing rosé.”
Orange wine is made through prolonged contact between the juice and the skin, resulting in a unique color in many different shades.
One TikToker even made her own orange wine at home, but used the real fruit
Orange wine – also known as amber wine or ramato – has more body and flavor than a white wine.
Its popularity has also been attributed to curiosity and helping people learn more about the wines they drink.
Helena Nicklin, Ocado Drinks ambassador, added: “Interest in orange wine continues to grow and it’s easy to see why: apart from the intriguing colour, it has its natural and historical element.
‘After all, that’s how wine was first made more than 3,000 years ago.
“Orange wine is also an incredibly versatile style of wine, sitting between a richer white and a light red, with lots of texture as well as fruit and aromatics, making it ideal for pairing with food or drinking on its own.”