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What dishes pair well with orange wine?

What dishes pair well with orange wine?

Orange wine pairs beautifully with a wide variety of dishes. But which ones exactly? That’s the question we’re going to explore right here, and we hope it’s what brought you to this page (if so, welcome, fellow curious palate).

Before diving into the perfect food pairings for orange wine, let’s take a quick moment to clarify what this unique wine style actually is.

Then, with the elegance of a feline sommelier, we’ll walk you through a few ideal dishes to enjoy with orange wine. Trust us, you’ll want to try them, and maybe even send us a message in a bottle (our space caaaaaaats will make sure it doesn’t pollute the ocean, we promise).

Ready? Here’s everything you need to know about orange wine and how to enjoy it to the fullest.

What is orange wine ?

Orange wine is, technically speaking, a skin-contact white wine. In simple terms, it’s a white wine made using red wine techniques, and that makes all the difference.

Usually, white grapes are pressed right after harvest. The juice is separated from the skins straight away, resulting in that clean, crisp white wine you know.

But orange wine breaks the rules.

Here, the juice is left in contact with the grape skins for days, sometimes even months. This skin maceration gives the wine its bold color and structure. Think of it like a long roommate situation between juice and skins, the kind that leads to deep, lasting character.

Why make (and drink) orange wine ?

Orange wine stands out for several reasons:

  • Its color, ranging from golden yellow to deep amber or copper-orange, depending on the grape variety, maceration time, and ageing process.
  • Its tannins. Yes, tannins in white wine. Skin contact adds a subtle grip, giving the wine more body and texture, slightly rough around the edges in the best way.
  • Its bold, expressive aromas. These wines often bring out dried fruits, spices, herbs, and floral notes you’d never expect from a typical white wine.

The best food pairings for orange wine

Let’s get to the heart of the matter: what to eat with orange wine. This is where the magic really happens.

Orange wine is incredibly versatile. It’s the Swiss army knife of food pairing, which is exactly why we proudly include it in our caaaaaaatalogue (like this stunner here).

Orange wine and chesse : a bold love story

cheese

Orange wines and cheese are a match made in heaven, especially the strong, character-packed varieties. You know, the kinds of cheeses that slap you in the face (politely, of course).

If you’re not ready to go full beast mode, start with hard-type or mild blue cheeses. For the more adventurous: aged Comté, Pecorino, bold Roquefort, Shropshire Blue, Stilton, Boerenkaas, Prästost, Svecia…

A perfect duo: orange wine and spices

Orange wine really shines with spiced dishes. Think Moroccan tajine, couscous, Indian curry, curry massaman, or a gently spiced lentil dahl.

Thanks to its tannic structure and slight bitterness, orange wine complements spices without being overwhelmed by them. It enhances long-simmered sauces and makes sweet-savory pairings sing ; if that’s not friendship on a plate, we don’t know what is.

Fish and meat with sauce, orange wine’s comfort zone

Bring bread. You’ll want to mop up the sauces.

Some of the best orange wine pairings come from saucy dishes, both from land and sea:

  • From the ocean: smoked salmon, herb-grilled fish, marinated tuna
  • From the farm: lemon confit chicken, veal with light cream sauce

Orange wine has the backbone to handle it all.

Orange wine, turning on the flavor machine

One last tip. Orange wine doesn’t play well with very sweet dishes or ultra-light fare. Its strong personality can easily overpower delicate flavors.

But beyond that, the possibilities are delicious. From risottos and gnocchi to sauerkraut and aged cheeses, orange wine will make you and your guests purr with joy.

Prefer something a little softer? Take a look at our other wines, all made with just as much care.

Until then, bon appétit and happy sipping.