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Value (in millions of U.S. dollars) of grapes in California’s Lake County alone that were rejected this past fall because of suspected damage from smoke taint. The taint can occur when grapes still hanging on the vine are exposed to prolonged intense smoke. Luckily, in both 2017 and 2018, the enormously destructive fires in California and Oregon occurred after most (but not all) grapes had been harvested.

Because it’s nearly Halloween, we thought we’d ask: What makes orange wine orange?

A. Grapes coming into contact with beeswax during the aging process in special vats called qvevri

B. The coloration of the special clone of pinot gris grapes that can be used to make orange wine

C. Fermented oranges added to the wine during aging

D. The juice from a variety of white grapes is fermented with the skins and stems when the wine is made

In making so-called “orange wine”, rather than removing skins after white grapes are pressed (as is common when making white wine), the juice is fermented in contact with the skins and stems. During the enzymatic breakdown that follows long contact with skins and stems, juice that was formerly white is turned orange. This not only contributes to orange wine’s vivid hue, but also adds tannin as it does with red wine. Orange wine can trace its roots to the Republic of Georgia where it has been made for over 6,000 years, often in qvevri (pronounced KEV-ree), which are large clay pots that are used for fermentation. After being sealed (often with beeswax), qvevri are buried and left underground for about six months.

Towering Over the World’s Oldest Cellar

A new high-rise in the Israeli city of Nahariya is being built over the “world’s oldest wine cellar”. The 3,700-year-old cellar was uncovered in 2013 in a Canaanite palace. Archaeologists found forty ceramic jars capable… Continue reading

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