What Is Orange Wine? Plus, 4 of the Best Orange Wines under $25, According to a Sommelier

There are so many reasons to love wine. If it's enjoyed in moderation (think: one to two glasses per day), it can help improve your heart health and reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease and can help you de-stress at the end of the day. Wine comes in many different flavors and styles, and many of us are familiar with red, white and rosé wines. But what is orange wine? Here we dive into how this trending type of wine is made, the best food pairings for orange wine and the best four bottles under $25.

What is orange wine?

To learn more about the nuances of orange wine and wine in general, we connected with Breana Killeen, M.P.H., RD, who is a trained chef and sommelier (talk about an impressive résumé). She explained that, typically, wine is made from pressed juice. The primary difference between types of wine is the varietal of grape used and whether the skins are kept on the fruit. White wines are made from white grapes that are pressed and have their skins removed prior to fermentation, whereas red wines are red grapes that are pressed and fermented with their skins to draw out flavor and tannins. Rosé wine is made from red grapes that are pressed and have skin contact for a very short period of time to impart some flavor and tannins.

"Orange wine is made like red wine except with white grapes," adds Killeen. "After the white grapes are pressed, the juice is fermented with the skins and the resulting wine has a deeper, sometimes amber color, and the common term for this product is orange wine."

Orange wine flavors & food pairings

The skins of grapes can add flavor, color and complexity to wine, and orange wine is no exception. "Orange wines tend to be a bit more complex and have more depth than easy, quaffable whites and reds," explains Killeen. She elaborates that they can be richer in aroma and weight than other white-grape wines, and might taste more like a sour beer than a typical wine. Killeen suggests pairing them with funky cheeses, meat or lamb dishes or spicy Chinese dishes like kung pao beef.

"Since you serve [orange wines] cold, they're really refreshing on a hot day, but I also think they're great as part of a wine tasting, since it's a different type of wine," says Killeen. "Honestly, the best occasions for these [wines] are with friends who want to try something new!"

The 4 best orange wines under $25, according to a sommelier

Orange wines are a fun addition to a dinner party with friends, especially with warming weather around the bend. With any type of wine or beer, it can be hard to navigate all of the options at the store or online. To help you dip your toes into the world of orange wine (or expand your repertoire), here are the four best orange wines under $25, according to Killeen.