9 Best Orange Wines UK | Macerao Solara and More
Orange wine gets its name from the deep orange colour of the final product, but the production process is where this wine truly stands out from the crowd. While other lighter wines such as white and rosé are typically derived from the juice of peeled grapes, orange wine combines the crisp freshness of white wine with the depth and intensity of red by fermenting white grape juice along with its skins.
The result is a vibrant amber wine that tastes rich yet delicate on the palate. If you're new to the world of orange wine or you're shopping for your new favourite, take a look through our buying guide to learn about light, medium and full-bodied wines, the optimal ABV, and the advantages of screw tops vs. corks. Make sure to check out our 9 favourite orange wines in the UK available from Amazon, Waitrose and more!
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How to Choose Orange Wines in the UK
- Consider the Flavour Profiles of Light, Medium and Full Bodied Wines
- Consider the ABV to Help You Drink Responsibly
- Opt For a Screw Top Bottle for Convenience, or a Corked Bottle to Encourage Depth for Flavour
- Check the Product Is Marked as Vegan
Choose a Full Bodied Wine for Rich and Decadent Flavours, or Light-Bodied for a Refreshing and Delicate Taste
The tasting notes of wine are an obvious indicator of whether you'll enjoy it. With orange wine, the dominant flavours are fruits and florals, but you should also check for other elements within the flavour profile to find a blend that suits your preferences. Another huge factor in experiencing wine is the body. Wines come as full, medium or light-bodied, and the intensity of the flavour varies accordingly.
- Light-bodied: These wines tend to contain the lowest alcohol content, with a light and crisp taste. The flavours are more delicate and refreshing and can be enjoyed with similarly subtle dishes.
- Medium-bodied: Falling somewhere in the middle ground, these wines can contain a range of low to high alcohol content, with a flavour versatility that can be paired with a variety of meals.
- Full-bodied: Bold and complex flavours define this variety, pairing well with similarly rich foods. Because of the intense flavour, they tend to make a higher alcohol content more palatable.
Savour cherries, berries and plums with our Best Red Wines!
Most Orange Wines Have an ABV of 13.5%: Consider the ABV to Help You Drink Responsibly
Because the flavours of wine are usually complemented by the alcohol content, it's important to choose the right ABV. The average alcohol content of wine is 13.5%, which is perfect for wine-lovers who are used to the flavours and impact of standard wines.
However, if you're looking to cut back or you're new to the world of wines and want to sample different flavours, without feeling the effects of alcohol, look for a lower ABV. We recommend trying one around 8% to still appreciate the full palette.
looking to try something a little lighter? here are the 10 Best White Wines!
Opt For a Screw Top Bottle for Convenience, or a Corked Bottle to Encourage Depth for Flavour Through Slow Aeration
There's an age-old belief that a bottle's closure type is indicative of quality, with screw tops being low-budget and corks being high-end. In the modern wine market, this isn't necessarily the case! Many higher-end bottles make use of screw tops and many budget wineries use corks, they simply serve different functions.
Corks are designed to slowly aerate wine whereas screw tops keep the bottle completely sealed until opening. Your main concern when choosing a bottle is the convenience and functionality of each. If you are looking for an easy option that won't cause too much of a hindrance, a screw-top will be ideal. This type is also great for re-closing the wine if you don't finish the bottle.
While it is possible, corks are more difficult to reseal, causing unfinished wine to aerate and spoil much quicker. The slow aeration of wine through the sealed cork, however, is great for releasing flavour and creating more depth, making it perfect if you enjoy the intense notes of a full-bodied wine.
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Check the Wine Is Marked as Vegan to Ensure It Doesn’t Contain Any Animal Derived Ingredients
If you're vegan, you've probably been surprised to find how many unexpected things turn out to be unsuitable for your diet, and wine is no exception! Although most wines will be suitable for a vegan diet, some wineries use animal derivatives in their production process.
When shopping for wine, it's always best to choose bottles clearly marked as vegan if you want to be certain. To help you out, we've included this information for each wine in our ranking, so that you can be sure your purchase is suitable for your dietary requirements.
9 Best Orange Wines in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Macerao Naranjo Orange |  | |
2 | Bizarra Extravaganza Natural Orange Wine |  | |
3 | Solara Orange Cramele Reca |  | |
4 | Unico Zelo Esoterico Orange Wine |  | |
5 | Herzog Late Harvest - Orange Muscat |  | |
6 | Rigal Vin Orange |  | |
7 | Poças Fora da Série Orange Wine |  | |
8 | K & L Wines Orange Wine Chardonnay / Viognier |  | |
9 | Domaine de la Janasse Viog Princip Orange |  |
From a 60-year-old vineyard in Valle Del Itata, Chile comes this unique and expressive full-bodied wine. The grapes are harvested by hand and paired with wild yeast for a three-month skin-on fermentation for a rich and sweet flavour.
Orange blossom, dried apricot, pears and honey come together in an intense palette that's slowly aerated through the cork. That way you can be sure it'll taste its best by the time it reaches your glass!
If your carbon footprint is important to you, you'll be pleased to hear that this wine from Bizarra Extravaganza is sourced from a Chilean farm that's dedicated to sustainable production practices.
The apple and honey notes are refreshing yet sweet, making them the ideal pairing for Morrocan, Korean and Japanese dishes. The winemakers have even suggested that this orange wine is the perfect accompaniment to kimchi.
With plants that date back to 1447, the Cramele Recas Estate vineyard in Romania is a home away from home for English owner Philip Cox. He and his wife are dedicated to creating rich and interesting flavours, regularly welcoming world-class winemakers and tasters into their winery.
The hard work seems to have paid off with this crisp and complex light-bodied bottle, characterised by the delicacy of peach and pear. It's ideal if you're looking for an introduction to the flavours of orange wine.
Savour the sunshine of the South Australian coast, all from the comfort of your own home. This bottle from Unico Zelo brings a taste of Italy to the Southern hemisphere, with its Italian grape varieties grown on Australian soil.
The result is a slightly acidic wine that pairs wonderfully with curries and Moroccan spices. Although, with a medium body and 12.5% ABV, it's versatile enough to enjoy with just about anything!
This dessert wine from Herzog is grown and fermented in Californian vineyards. They bottle less than 10,000 cases annually due to the diligent attention they believe is owed to each and every bottle.
The sweet and exotic fruit flavours pair well with most desserts, but cheese and chocolate pairings will bring out the best in this wine. Alternatively, enjoy it as a stand-alone treat, giving you the chance to truly focus on the complex flavour.
The fresh taste of white peach and citrus is accompanied by a toasted, smoky undertone with this vibrant orange wine. Its light body is slightly less intense than other options, making it very easy to drink.
If you're looking for a wine to accompany your meal, this may not be your best bet as it may become overshadowed by strong flavours. As a stand-alone bottle, however, you're sure to enjoy every sip.
Indulge in roasted chestnuts and smoky cinnamon with this Portuguese wine from Poças Fora da Série. A wonderful accompaniment to shellfish, lean fish and cured meats, this medium-bodied bottle is sure to impress.
Although the winemakers haven't specifically advertised their fermentation process, this wine is not confirmed to be vegan. This means that there could potentially be animal derivatives involved in the production.
The typical notes of fruit, citrus and florals are abundant in this light-bodied wine. However, they are made all the more interesting by nutty and spicy undertones, which add a little extra depth to the flavour.
This is another wine that may not be best suited for drinking with a meal. Although, considering the light body and variety of flavour notes, you may be able to pair it well with a wide variety of dishes.
This medium-bodied 14.5 % wine pairs well with all manner of rich flavours. Whether you're serving pasta, pork or poultry, you'll enjoy it even more with a glass of Viog Princip Orange.
Just be aware that the ABV is markedly higher than any other wine on our list. While this does complement the intensity of the flavour, we appreciate that a higher alcohol content may be slightly off putting for some.
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
