‘The future’s bright, the future’s orange’ was a brilliant marketing slogan but we haven’t heard it for a while because the brand in question disappeared from the UK a decade ago. It feels like we’ve been talking up orange wine for almost as long but there’s evidence that the style is at last gaining traction, with Majestic seeing a near trebling of sales in the last year. So, what are the best orange wines for summer 2025?
Though it undoubtedly has the lustre of something fresh and different, the technique for producing an orange wine remains rooted in the past, dating back to the origins of wine itself and its birthplace, Georgia, where it’s known as ‘amber’ wine – a name that’s more elegant and less suggestive of Lucozade.
The subtle savoury, sometimes nutty character makes orange wine the ultimate ‘Marmite wine’
‘Amber wines hold deep cultural meaning and symbolism for Georgians because they have a continuous tradition of making wines in this way,’ says Master of Wine Sarah Abbott, who oversees the IWSC’s judging of Georgia’s wines. ‘This is not some new hipster fashion for them, as such wines have always been in the mix, alongside sparkling, red, white and rosé, like a fifth element.’
She explains that Georgians have mastered their craft over thousands of years, across a range of different styles from light and fragrant to tannic and serious, using techniques that have scarcely changed: ‘Amber wines from Georgia are closely associated with qvevris, the egg-shaped clay vessels that are an 8,000 year-old example of engineering intelligence, and whose use in winemaking is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.’
What’s the definition of an orange wine? For starters, there’s no citrus fruit in the mix (although, ironically, my tasting notes often reference oranges, which also feature prominently in the branding of many examples). In a nutshell, it’s a white made like a red. The enticing, social media-friendly hue comes from the fermentation of grapes on their skins, giving intriguing aromas and richer flavours when compared to a conventional white wine. The process delivers tannins, as you’d expect from a red, which can be challenging to some palates, with the subtle savoury, sometimes nutty character making it the ultimate ‘Marmite wine’: fascinating, food-friendly, divisive and delicious.
The wines can be produced by conventional means but the technique is inextricably linked with the ‘natural’, low-intervention movement, and, for all its history, orange remains a niche category – paling when compared to the success of rosé, which boasts around 10% of the UK market – though it’s clearly a style that’s tempting drinkers in search of something new. M&S showed three orange wines at a recent press tasting, while Majestic now offers a range of five.
Orange wines are gastrononic, working well with a variety of dishes, including those with challenging ingredients such as chilli and curry spice, while they also make a great accompaniment for a cheese course. A word of warning: whatever the ambient temperature, avoid the temptation to chill orange wines too much, as it will amplify the tannins and mute the complexity. As a rule, aim for cool, rather than cold. Read on for ten of the best orange wines to try this summer.
Ten top orange wines for summer
Meinklang, Weißer Mulatschak, NV
‘Mulatschak’ is apparently a slang term for ‘celebration’ and if the name’s a bit of a mouthful, then so is the wine. Naturally cloudy, this gentle Austrian sparkler – a blend of Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Welschriesling – will appeal to lovers of so-called ‘natty wines’, with its intriguing floral nose of rose petals, iris and lychee. The palate is actually crunchy and dry, with stone fruits and yeasty complexity. An outré party starter to enjoy with canapés.
£15, Vintage Roots
Teliani Valley, Glekhuri Kisi Qvevri, 2022
The latest 2023 vintage of this wine has just won a coveted gold medal at the IWSC, so while we wait for that to hit the market, check out the ’22 instead. An amber wine from Georgia’s indigenous Kisi variety, grown in the villages of Kakheti, whole bunches are fermented in qvevri pots for six months, adding colour, richness and depth. Orange blossom, honey and spice lead into a complex tapestry of tropical fruits, underscored by savoury elements including rosemary and fennel, all supported by velvety tannins. Try this with herb-roasted chicken and crispy bacon.
£27, Hedonism
Gérard Bertrand, Orange Gold, 2022
A gentle, inviting blend of Assyrtiko and Roditis from Greece’s Naoussa region, with gentle skin contact and minimal sulphur addition. Notes of blood orange and clove lead into a pillowy textural feast of citrus and stone fruits, with a delicate, faintly nutty savoury undertow. Tested on my partner, an orange wine sceptic, who declared it ‘delicious’.
£16, Majestic
M&S, Kisi Qvevris, 2022
M&S was one of the first big retailers to bring Georgian amber wines to the UK’s supermarket shelves and this is a new example, one that is significantly better than anything that has gone before. Produced from Kisi, a wonderful indigenous variety that lends itself to skin-contact wines, this has spent six months in qvevri (an earthenware vessel). The beguiling nose offers rose petal, tea leaves and chamomile, while the palate is complex but never weighty, with orange peel, saffron and blanched hazelnuts. A well priced, versatile wine – try this with chorizo.
£11, Ocado, M&S
Lyrarakis, Assyrtiko-Vidiano Orange Wine, 2024
From Crete’s renowned Lyrarakis family who have been making wines since 1966 in Heraklion. A blend of equal parts Assyrtiko and Vidiano, macerated on skins for seven days before resting in concrete for five months. There’s marmalade and ripe apricot, supported by a silky, seductive texture and a hint of olive brine in the finish, making it perfect for pairing with a waxy cheese, such as aged Gouda.
£13, Majestic
Santa Tresa, Insieme Orange, 2023
From a organic-certified estate in Sicily’s south, a combination of Inzolia and Zibibbo, two grapes that seem to lend themselves to an orange style. The nose offers lifted notes of tangerine, while the palate is fresh, with juicy peach, camomile and pink grapefruit, plump dried apricots and a smattering of spice. Pair this with aubergine parmigiana.
£16, Vintage Roots
Oranje Viognier, Stellenbosch, 2024
Offering an appealing ‘nursery slope’ for those looking to experiment with orange, this new South African entry to the market successfully uses Viognier, a textural variety, to bring a peachy note to proceedings. The nose also offers ripe apricot, dried mango and a dusting of cinnamon spice, while the palate is creamy, balanced by a firm nectarine acidity, with subtle and nutty tannins.
£14, Majestic
The Future’s Bright Orange Wine, 2024
From Languedoc winemaker Mark Hoddy, a clever blend of Chardonnay and Viognier that speaks of a place, with floral aromas, ripe, juicy peaches and apricot jam, balanced by a gentle, spicy, savoury undertow that creates a vinous ‘sweet and sour’ effect, with very subtle tannins. Try pairing this with Sichuan cuisine.
£12, Laithwaites
Côte Mas, Rosorange, 2023
An intriguing option that seeks to fuse rosé and orange wine. A blend of Macabeo, Cinsault, Grenache and Vermentino, its appearance is at the pinker end, with the aromas suggesting Provençal peachiness, while the palate is where strawberry millefeuille meets nut roast, as a lovely savoury undertow takes hold. A good value, inventive wine to pair with smoked salmon blinis.
£10, Waitrose
Chris Boiling, Crazy Experimental Orange, 2022
Wine writer Chris Boiling has turned winemaker and this, his first orange (more accurately amber, as it hails from Georgia) is a great success. I was fortunate to taste one of the very first samples at a wine festival. A blend of two indigenous grape varieties, Kisi and Khikhvi, fermented in qvevri, there’s plenty of complexity from dried apricot, mango, wet walnut and saffron, with a gentle tug from the tannins and a long umami-fuelled finish.
£22.50, Wickhams Wine Merchants
