Sales of orange wine in the UK have soared by 99% year-on-year on Ocado, with a 437% month-on-month rise in London, according to the online supermarket. The trend has prompted major retailers including Aldi, Majestic and M&S to stock the wine, which is made by fermenting white grapes with their skins, giving it an amber hue.
Orange wine is not made from oranges but is a white wine produced like a red wine, a process known as skin contact. This method, which can also include stems, has been traced back 3,000 years to Georgia, considered the cradle of winemaking. The wines range from subtle gold to deep amber and offer flavours from ripe yellow fruit to savoury, saline notes.
In March, Aldi launched a hybrid 'Rosorange' wine that caused a stir on TikTok, selling 5,000 bottles in the first week and tripling sales the following week. The wine bar Oranj in Shoreditch, London, reports strong year-round sales of orange wine, with a summer upturn alongside rosé.
Despite its ancient origins, orange wine has been niche due to its sometimes 'funky' or 'stinky farmyard' flavours and higher cost, as it is often made in smaller quantities. However, wine educators note that the category is vast, with options ranging from floral and peachy to structured and smoky, appealing to adventurous drinkers.
