What Do I Pair With Orange Wine?
Orange wine is cool and all, but it also seems like it’s from space. (Maybe it is!) So when pairing it with food, do you think of it as a red wine or a white wine? Or neither? Is it like a rosé? What does it go with? Everything or nothing?
Ok, don’t get ahead of yourself. First things first.
The most important thing is to keep these key thoughts in mind:
Consider the tannins. Orange wines will have varying levels of tannin (that stuff that dries out your mouth, usually only found in red wine). This means you can pair orange wine with heavier dishes and meats that would overpower just a regular ol' white wine. (Generally, the longer it’s been macerated on its skins—keep reading—the more tannins it will have.)
Consider the strength of flavor. Because orange wines tend to be pretty strong in flavor (especially when they are made from aromatic varieties like Riesling or Muscat) they will stand up to strongly flavored dishes!
Consider the style. The amount of time the grapes have been macerated on their skins (anywhere from 24 hours to many months), can determine the strength of the style. Is it a “baby” orange wine (which is lighter and might be mistaken for a savory rosé)? Or is it one that’s been aged for 6 months in qvevri underground? (These are pretty common in The Republic of Georgia.)
Once you’ve taken into account the above variables, here are some pairing ideas you can try out!
With heavier/more intense orange wines, try…
Grilled BBQ chicken. Especially if it's a very intense orange wine like those made from aromatic varieties like Riesling or Muscat; that crazy flavor will stand up to the sweet intensity of the BBQ sauce.
Grilled eggplant and mushrooms. Winner, winner, vegetarian dinner.
Moroccan lamb tagine. Don't be shy on those aromatic spices! (But avoid too much heat...orange wines, well tannins, specifically, don't love spicy foods.)
An Ethiopian smorgasbord. Again, bold and rich spices are good. Be careful with the heat spice.
With lighter/less intense orange wines, try…
Seafood or mushroom risotto. Look for an orange wine made from a neutral variety like Chardonnay and macerated on its skins for less time.
Eggplants with walnut sauce. Try this classic Georgian dish. The country of Georgia is known for their orange (or they call it “amber”) wine. And when in doubt, remember that “what grows together, goes together.”
Roasted cauliflower steak with farro salad. Think nutty. The nutty and earthy flavors of the cauliflower and farro will complement the savory profile of the orange wine.