VINO DE NARANJA

WHITE WINE MACERATE WITH ORANGE PEEL IS A LONG TRADITION IN ANDALUSIA

The Mediterranean climate and mild average temperatures make the south coast of Spain an ideal place for growing and producing high- quality wines. It is therefore not surprising that a delicious specialty with a long tradition called “Vino de Naranja” is produced in sun-drenched Andalusia, more precisely in the province of Huelva, not far from Seville.

The flavored sweet wine with an orange color has been produced in Andalusia for hundreds of years and is now the only flavored wine in Spain that is protected by a designation of origin. On March 14th, 2017 it was awarded the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of the European Union.

However, it should not be confused with the dry orange wine, which in many parts of the world is considered the fourth type of wine alongside red, white and rosé wines. Macerated with white grape skins, this wine differs both in its dark color as well as in the manufacture. All the ingredients of the original orange wine consist exclusively of the DO Condado de Huelva with the preferred grape variety Zalema, which covers around 60% of the entire cultivation area.

In the past, the grapes of this variety were shipped the short distance to Jerez to be used in sherry production. Due to changes in Spanish wine law, exports even from one region to another were no longer permitted, so the grapes had to be processed on site. Other grape varieties such as Palomino Fino, Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel de Alejandría, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are also permitted in its production.