How Natural Organic Wine Is Made: The Process Behind Your Favorite Orange Bottles

Over the past few years, the wine industry has seen a welcome change. Wine lovers and everyday consumers alike are increasingly finding bottles described as natural, organic, or even orange in their reach. These wines are not only a fad—they are a return to classic winemaking practices that focus on purity, sustainability, and authenticity.

But how exactly is natural organic wine made? And what makes those eye-catching amber-hued orange wines so special? Let’s peel back the label and explore the process behind your favorite natural orange bottles.

What Is Natural Organic Wine?

Before diving into the process, it’s essential to understand what we mean by natural organic wine.

• Natural wine is usually produced with minimal intervention. No artificial additives, no cultured yeasts, and no extensive filtering or manipulation.

• Organic wine is produced using grapes that are cultivated without artificial pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.

• The union of both gives natural organic wine: pure grape juice fermented, produced with minimal interference from vine to bottle.

What Is Orange Wine?

Orange wine does not come from oranges. Rather, it is a white wine produced with red winemaking methods. The key is the process of skin-contact fermentation. White wines are usually fermented without the skins, but orange wine is fermented with the skins and seeds on—just like red wine.

This process imparts the wine its distinctive orange or amber hue and a fuller, tannic, and more complicated taste. Its texture is said to be likened to tea or cider by some.

The Step-by-Step Natural Orange Wine-Making Process

1. Choosing the Grapes (Bianco Varieties)

Natural orange wine starts with white grapes of choice—usually termed in Italian as bianco wine varieties. They may be Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Trebbiano, and so on. The most important thing is employing organic grapes that are farmed without man-made chemicals.

The choice of grape is paramount since natural winemakers feel that excellent wine begins in the vineyard. Most employ the manual harvesting method to preserve the grapes and only choose the best fruit.

2. Spontaneous Fermentation

After the grapes are picked, they are crushed, and the skins, seeds, and juice are left to ferment together. This is called skin-contact fermentation.

Spontaneous fermentation is what is sought after in natural winemaking. This is wild, native yeasts—already on the grape skins or in the winery—used rather than yeasts that have been cultured in a lab. This process enables the wine to communicate the distinct terroir of the vineyard.

3. Skin Maceration (The Orange Effect)

The fermentation period may take anywhere from a few days to months. The longer the skins are in contact with the juice, the more color, texture, and tannins the wine will take.

This is the step where white grape juice becomes orange wine. The end product is a wine with strong flavors, an earthy scent, and a slightly oxidized finish that foodies love.

4. Aging and Minimal Intervention

Following fermentation, natural orange wine is most often aged in neutral containers such as clay amphorae, cement tanks, or second-hand oak barrels. These are the kind of materials through which wine can mature naturally without adding strong flavors.

Filtration is usually avoided or very lightly done, and sulfites (which are used to stabilize most traditional wines) are not added or are added in minimal amounts.

5. Bottling and Labeling

After the wine is at the level of desired taste and balance, it's bottled. You'll notice that natural wines will often have a hazy look or even some sediment. That's totally fine—these wines are unfined and unfiltered, keeping as natural as possible.

Why People Love Natural Orange Wine

Natural orange wines provide something unusual: a true, hands-off representation of the grape and soil. With their distinct textures, full flavors, and funky appeal, they are a hit with sommeliers, natural wine bars, and adventurous drinkers.

And if you’re wondering where to buy them, many specialty liquor shops in places like New York stock a growing selection of orange and natural wines. Check your local wine and spirits hours or find a dedicated liquor shop New York that focuses on organic selections.

FAQs About Natural Orange Wine

1. Is orange wine made from oranges?

No. Although the name might suggest otherwise, orange wine is produced from white grapes. The color is achieved when the skins remain in contact with the juice during the fermentation process.

2. What does natural organic wine taste like?

Natural organic wines tend to be more earthy, wild, or funky than wines made using conventional methods. Orange wines, specifically, have nutty, honeyed, or dried fruit flavors with a hint of tannin.

3. Is orange wine healthier than regular wine?

Though there is no wine that is a health food, natural organic wines don't contain additives and manufactured chemicals, which many consumers perceive as a better option.

4. Is natural orange wine available in regular stores?

That depends. Major chains may not have a lot of stock, but many boutique wine stores and New York liquor stores do. It's safest to look online or check ahead of time during your local wine and spirits hours.

5. Why does natural wine taste different every time?

Because natural wines use wild yeast and minimal intervention, every vintage—and sometimes even every bottle—will be slightly different. That uncertainty is all part of the appeal.

Final Thoughts

Natural orange wine is more than a pretty package—it's a labor of love based in tradition and sustainability. From organically produced bianco grapes to wild fermentation and long skin contact, each bottle is a story.

Whether you are a newbie to the realm of natural organic wine or an old friend, discovering orange juice wine is a thrilling adventure for your taste buds. So next time you're shopping around your New York liquor store or looking up wine and spirits hours, look for these radiant amber treasures, which you can purchase at 67WINE. They have the Natural Organic Wines available at an economical price. You could well find your new favorite wine.