In episode 178 of The Drinking Hour podcast, host David Kermode takes on the subject of amber wine. Better known as orange wine, these skin-contact white wines are all the rage with restaurant goers and supermarket shoppers seeking full-bodied whites with complex flavour profiles ranging from herbaceous and floral to nutty and savoury.
To help dive into everything amber wine, Kermode is joined by expert and IWSC judge Will Hill, managing director of Novel Wines. Together, the pair chart the history of the style, a story that largely takes place in Georgia. Kermode and Hill share a love for the country’s fine food-and-drink offerings, with both of them extolling the virtues of the Georgian dining ritual, supra.
Hill and Kermode explain why Georgians refer to skin-contact white wines as amber, and highlight some of the unique flavours found in the region’s amber wines. They also discuss the benefits and practicalities of making wine in Qvevri, charting just how Georgian winemakers use the traditional clay vessels, and emphasising how difficult these can be to master and maintain. At Kermode’s insistence, Hill even demonstrates his grasp of Georgian grapes, providing a quick masterclass on how to pronounce a myriad of often complex names.
The duo end the episode by encouraging listeners to explore amber wine, listing several styles to seek out and sharing their advice with those wanting to try it for themselves.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here.
