Bock, Csetvei, Etyeki Kúria, Kristinus, Gróf Degenfeld

Orange wines are undoubtedly trendy, exciting and have their own personality. Though the style comes from the heart of Europe – Croatia, Italy and Slovenia –, and Georgia is another country must to be mentioned, the term “orange wines” comes from British sommeliers, and the Orange Wine Day comes from the United States, where they are especially keen on dedicating days to everything. Let us introduce 5 great orange wines from Hungary.
Cover photo (without bottle shots): Pexels / Robin Kumar Biswal

What is orange wine?

Long macerated white wine, which gets a special, orange-like colour due to the prolonged skin contact. There is an epicentre of orange wines in an area of three neighbouring countries, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia. Now orange wine is made in many countries, from New Zealand to Hungary.

Amber wine

In Georgia, one of the oldest wine countries of the world, long maceration is a tradition. Here the wine style is called amber wine.

Orange Wine Festival in Vienna and in Australia

A whole event is dedicated to orange wines twice a year, once in Slovenia (Izola) and once in Austria (Vienna). The Vienna event takes place on 25 November in the Museums Quarter. Tickets are available for 55 EUR / person. Etyeki Kúria from Hungary will also participate.
In Australia in the so called “orange wine region” a series of events will be held in the second half of October.
More about Vienna Orange Wine Festival
More about Australia Orange Wine Festival

Amber revolution – the book

Simon J Woolf wine writer wrote the first book about orange wines, a comprehensive story of “how the world learned to love” this style. Woolf won the Louis Roederer Best Wine Book of the Year prize in 2019, and New York Times Best Wine Book accolade in 2018. “Learn about the backstory – the many millennia of history in Georgia, the traditions in Friuli and Slovenia. Discover how these wines are made, why they taste different, where to buy & how to enjoy. Includes food matching tips and a guide to 180 top producers worldwide.”
Buy the book here

Who started?

National Orange Wine Day was launched by Amanda Claire Goodwin wine expert in 2018. ” “I have a special interest in natural wines and lesser known / emerging wine regions. I particularly chose to focus on wines and producers that are practicing sustainability, organic, and/or biodynamics practices.” – comments Amanda on her website.
More about Amanda Claire Goodwin

Bock Narancsbor 2024, Villány

The famous Villány producer has released the first orange wine of the estate, a medium dry wine made of 100% Hárslevelű with 14 days skin contact. “High viscosity and ripe fruit aromas — dried apricot and linden honey — greet us as we inhale. On the palate, it quickly becomes evident that the wine, born from healthy and naturally shrivelled berries, has not fermented to complete dryness. Alongside a moderated yet elegant acidity, the characteristic notes of Hárslevelű unfold in succession: yellow apple, pear compote, and dried apricot. These are accompanied by honey, roasted seeds, and a bouquet of dried flowers. The long, lingering finish with orange oil and the silky bitterness of orange peel. Perfectly suited to pair with a spicy Pad Thai.”
Find the wine on Bock webshop

Csetvei RAW / KA Ezerjó Orange Wine 2024, Mór

Ezerjó is a rare grape and it is especially important in the small Mór wine region. Krisztina Csetvei has totally changed her range of wines to natural wines, and certainly orange wine is included in the RAW / KA line (raw refers to the natural character of the wines while pronounced, it sounds like ‘róka’, the fox in Hungarian, referring to the colour of the wine. The hand harvested Ezerjó grape was soaked on the skins for 16 days, fermented, and then pressed with a small wooden basket press. After gentle pressing, fermentation was completed in the tank. “Unclarified, unfiltered, bottled wine without the addition of sulphur. Very rich, slightly vermouth-like, spicy, long-lasting wine, with a wonderful amber colour.”
Find the wine on Csetvei webshop

Etyeki Kúria MSP Orange Wine 2022, Etyek

Sándor Mérész, chief winemaker of Etyeki Kúria has an experimental project (MSP), including an orange wine made of Pinot Gris. The bunches were picked by hand, after destemming the must was kept on the skin for 10 days– to obtain flavours and the typical colour. The wine was then aged in second and third use Hungarian and French oak. Very limited production: only 1300 bottles were filled without clarification and filtration. Fruity and floral nose with pink grapefruit, candied orange peel and red cranberries. The palate is also fruity and complex with sour cherry, blood orange, orange peel, clove and cinnamon.
The wine is not available on the winery webshop anymore, but you can find it elsewhere, for example on GlobalWineries.nl webshop.
More about Etyeki Kúria

Kristinus Liquid Sunshine 2022, Balaton

The South Balaton estate is the largest biodynamic winery in Hungary. Lake Balaton is the region of sunshine hence the name is perfect, especially if the wine is to be enjoyed well chilled on a yacht on the lake…
Chardonnay and Szürkebarát (Pinot Gris) grapes come from the high, windy, Parapli vineyard overlooking Lake Balaton. Spontaneous fermentation with skin contact, ageing in amphora and used barrels. Unfiltered and with minimal sulphur added. “The bone-dry palate is energetic and vibrant. Spices, mustard seeds, tangerine juice and orange peel come across. Such is the taste of sunshine at the southwestern end of Lake Balaton, on the Kéthely estate of Kristinus.”
Find the wine on Bortársaság webshop
More about Kristinus Wine Estate