Check out the above video for the day we picked the grapes for our 100% Bacchus Orange wine before we took them to Mountain People Winery in the Wye Valley for some Alchemy. We’re immensely proud of this orange wine (much more info below) which won a Silver medal at the Wine GB awards and became something of a poster child for cool (and cool climate) English wine at a certain point!
LAST ORDERS FOR FREE XMAS DELIVERY - FRIDAY 20th DEC 12:00PM
CAN YOU SPOT THE CAN IN THIS RATHER GRAND PHOTO OF AWARD WINNING WINES FROM WINE GB!
ALL ABOUT ORANGE WINE
Orange wine has been the talk of the wine world in recent years, and with good reason. Despite some initial confusion (no, it's not made from oranges!), its popularity has surged as wine enthusiasts discover its unique characteristics and versatility.
The story of orange wine actually stretches back thousands of years to Georgia, where winemaking is believed to have originated. There, white wines were traditionally made with skin contact, creating what they called "amber wine" - though today, the terms orange wine, amber wine, and skin-contact wine all refer to the same technique.
This traditional method involves making white wine like red wine - leaving the grape skins in contact with the juice during fermentation. This skin contact imparts tannins and greater texture to the wine, resulting in a fuller, bolder expression than traditional white wines. It's this process that creates the distinctive character that's captured the attention of wine lovers worldwide.
Our take on this ancient style showcases 100% English Bacchus grapes from Two Beacons Vineyard in the Malvern Hills. The grapes underwent a 17-day carbonic maceration, where hand-picked whole grapes ferment in sealed tanks using wild yeast. We then matured the wine on its lees for a year with regular bâtonnage (stirring), allowing it to develop naturally. The result? A characterful wine with just 9.2% ABV that punches well above its weight.
In the glass, you'll find a vibrant golden hue with enticing aromas of apricots, pear, and honey. The palate is fuller-bodied and dry, with balanced acidity and tropical fruit flavours, leading to a long finish that brings back those beautiful apricot and honey notes. We recommend serving it at cellar temperature (around 15°C) to fully appreciate its complexity.
As climate patterns shift and harvests move earlier in traditional wine regions, winemakers are increasingly turning to techniques like skin contact to add body and complexity to their wines. Our approach embraces this challenge while celebrating the unique terroir of the Malvern Hills, creating a wine that's both traditional and thoroughly modern.
Perfect as an aperitif or paired with food, this vegan-friendly wine represents the exciting future of English winemaking. Whether you're new to orange wine or a seasoned enthusiast, we believe this award-winning bottle offers something truly special for the winter season!
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