If it were just a passing trend, orange wine—also known as skin-contact white wine—would have long been replaced by some new enological fashion. Instead, these wines remain a staple this year, not only in the trendiest bars of London and Paris but also on Italian tables, especially at Christmas, when wine becomes the perfect gift.
Described by The Guardian as the "summer 2024 craze," these wines captivate with their amber hues and complex notes, making them ideal companions for elaborate dishes or delightful surprises for wine enthusiasts.
What makes Orange Wine special?
The secret lies in maceration: the must from white grapes is left in contact with the grape skins for varying periods, from a few hours to several months. Short macerations yield bright golden hues and fresh aromas, while longer periods transform the wine into an intense orange colour with almost tannic characteristics and a surprising texture.
But orange wine is not a modern invention. Its roots stretch back over 3,000 years to ancient Georgian traditions, where kvevri—large clay amphorae buried underground—were used to ferment white grapes with their skins and stems. This method, now recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, later inspired Italian winemakers. In the 1990s, pioneers like Joško Gravner and Stanko Radikon revived and reinterpreted these techniques in the hills of Oslavia, Friuli.
Today, orange wines are no longer exclusive to natural wine cellars; they are embraced by new producers and regions, including the Collio DOC.
Gifting Orange Wine for Christmas
Intrigued by the idea of gifting an orange wine this Christmas? With a budget under €50, there are plenty of excellent options. Following our recommendations for red, rosé, and white wines with the best value for money, here’s a guide to the top orange wines to consider for your holiday shopping.
The best Orange Wines to Gift this Christmas
Below is a list of standout orange wines that impressed us during tastings for the Berebene 2025 and Vini d’Italia 2025 guides by Gambero Rosso. While Friuli Venezia Giulia dominates with numerous awarded labels, Sicily, Tuscany, and Romagna also shine with their unique interpretations of macerated wines.
Ribolla Gialla 2020 – Paraschos
Ribolla Gialla 2020 with an amber hue and notes of barley malt, beeswax, peach syrup, apricot jam, dried fruit, and baked apple with cinnamon, this wine offers structure, freshness, and a hint of tannins. Evangelos Paraschos, based in San Floriano del Collio, uses ancestral winemaking methods with open oak vats or terracotta amphorae from Greece, his homeland.
Collio Friulano Miklus 2019 - Draga – Miklus
The Friulano Miklus '19 is splendid, evoking notes of quince jam, ripe banana, and honey. In 1982, Milan Miklus took on the responsibility of managing the family estate, which at the time comprised just one hectare of vineyard. He converted the remaining land into vineyards and, ten years later, began bottling his wines. Today, the baton has been passed to his son Mitja, who now oversees a remarkable viticultural heritage. Both in the vineyard and the cellar, father and son adopt methods that are partly modern and partly ancestral, always respectful of the land and committed to sustainability.
Collio Friulano Athena 2020 – Picéch
The Friulano Athena '20 from the Picéch winery boasts a golden hue reminiscent of pure gold and an intense aroma of mandarin, apricot jam, and honey. On the palate, it is juicy, fragrant, and full of flavour. Roberto Picéch is an iconic figure in the Collio region, a true artisan of wine and an undisputed protagonist. The son of Egidio, known as "the rebel," he inherited not only the vineyards but also a straightforward and determined character that allows him to imbue his wines with a distinctive identity. Respectful of tradition yet innovative, he has successfully personalised his winemaking style, which sometimes includes prolonged macerations to extract the highest possible level of aromatic components.
Vitovska 6/7 Ris. 2021 – Skerlj
The nose bursts with aromas of white and yellow-fleshed fruits, citrus, followed by honey, delicate spices, and balsamic notes in this macerated wine from the Skerlj winery. The sip is sleek, inviting a complex yet pleasantly effortless drink. It offers a predominant savoury drive. Matej and Kristina Skerlj are the owners of this true gem in the Carso region near Trieste. The small scale of the estate allows Matej to tend to the vines with meticulous care. All processes are carried out by hand, and the winemaking relies on ancient ancestral techniques.
Romagna Albana Vitalba 2023 - Tre Monti
The Albana Vitalba '23 from Tre Monti winery is fabulous, golden in colour and fragranced with floral notes, rich and dynamic on the palate. The journey of this winery began in 1966 when Thea and Sergio Navacchia purchased a small estate to make wine for their friends. However, they soon started to believe in the untapped potential of the Imola region, and in 1974, Tre Monti was born: with dense planting, experimentation with non-traditional grape varieties, and innovation both in the vineyard and the cellar. After Thea’s passing in 1989, Sergio was joined by his sons, David and Vittorio, who have also explored amphora winemaking.
The Zagreo '22, made from pure Fiano, is an intense wine with great character, aged for 11 months in amphora. Its aromatic profile includes white pepper, candied ginger, green citrus, tea leaves, and pollen, creating a tactile and reactive macerated white wine. It is substantial yet lively, rhythmic, and captivating to drink. The winery of Diana Iannaccone and Mario Basco is located in a stunning 18th-century masseria in one of the most enchanting areas of the Caserta region, Teano, an unspoiled territory rich in lush nature. The extinct Roccamonfina volcano significantly influences the soils supporting the vineyards, which span just over ten hectares and are cultivated according to biodynamic viticulture principles. Concrete and amphorae, fermentations with indigenous yeasts, and macerations, including for white wines, are the tools and techniques employed to craft an extraordinarily original range of wines.
Benvenuto Zibibbo Orange 2023 – Cantine Benvenuto
The Benvenuto Zibibbo Orange '23 from Cantine Benvenuto boasts a refined and complex nose with notes of exotic fruit and Mediterranean herbs, which are echoed in a sip driven by lively acidity that lingers beautifully on the palate. In just a few years, Giovanni Benvenuto has transformed his family’s land into a winery producing original and well-crafted wines from native grape varieties cultivated organically. His efforts have also shone a spotlight on a heritage grape like the Zibibbo of Pizzo. The winery and its surrounding vineyards are located in the hilly area of Francavilla Angitola, in the Vibonese hinterland, at an altitude of around 300 metres. Here, in addition to Zibibbo, Giovanni also cultivates Malvasia, Greco Nero, and Magliocco.
Siriki Orange 2017 – Cantina dei Principi di Spadafora
The Siriki Orange '17 is excellent, immediately standing out for its brilliant golden hue with orange undertones. On the nose, it reveals complex aromas ranging from resin to dried citrus peel, tea, ginger, and dried apricot. On the palate, these elements return in a pleasant and savoury pulp, with a clean and persistent finish. Like a fairytale, there is a magical place—a countryside estate between Monreale and Alcamo—and a prince, Francesco Spadafora. Today, his vision of crafting wine in an uncontaminated and unique location, one that has always belonged to his family, is shared with his daughter Enrica, who has brought a feminine touch to this endeavour born of passion, dreams, and above all, commitment and dedication. The meticulous selection of grapes ensures that the final product is a true representation of the territory.
The Krimiso'19 is excellent, a Mediterranean wine with a pleasantly salty character made from Catarratto grapes, macerated on the skins for about five months in steel tanks. The aromatic profile reveals hints of citrus, yellow fruit, and aromatic herbs. On the palate, it is savoury and mineral, with delicate tannins on the finish. Aldo Viola is the epitome of the phrase "one man, one wine" because he had the determination to go beyond, to experiment with wines that could truly express who he was: long macerations, no fining or stabilisation, and a limited use of sulphur dioxide are tangible signs of his approach. The vineyards, which he owns, are located in the Feudo Guarini area in Alcamo, in the Trapani province. His passion for Catarratto is fundamental, almost like a monotheistic faith, and it has resulted in excellent wines, as well as successful results with Syrah and Perricone.
It's the year of Barbera. We recommend an excellent one with the best value for money
Italy copied France: this is how panettone was born
The historic Neapolitan chocolatier built by a gentleman and his wife
In Turkey, the Michelin Guide Awards also recognize an Italian restaurant—but not with a Star
An interesting Japanese fine dining restaurant near Turin
