Diego’s pick: March 2021
Argentina’s wine sector is pushing its boundaries in very exciting ways! The industry is not only looking for new terroirs (Ocean Patagonia, South Patagonia in Chubut, Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cordoba) and new varietals (Monastrel, Garnacha, gewürztraminer, etc.), but it is also searching for new techniques and methods in the wine making process.
The new generation of oenologist is constantly exploring to produce new styles, looking for new horizons. This search has leads them to find orange wine.
Orange wines are those wines that come from white varietals but are vinified as reds. The grapes are fermented and macerated with its skins and the contact gives it the final color which can range from golden yellow to intense orange.
These wines are a very interesting category for food pairing, an excellent option to accompany goat’s cheese, charcuterie, empanadas as appetizers; but also with strong-flavored food, such as curries, Moroccan, Ethiopian or Korean cuisine.
In 2011, Matias Michelini made the first orange wine in Argentina (out of Torrontes) and ten years later, we can find around thirty different labels from different varieties, coming from different wine regions along the country.
El Porvenir Naranjo from Cafayate, Salta, is made from a blend of Torrontes and Maoscatel Rosado, from a pergola vineyard first planted in 1945. “Small Fermentations” is a limited production of 2,600 bottles of this wine per year.
It is an orange wine of medium golden color, with reflections in tone. Its aroma is of high intensity; complex and interesting freshness. Its floral notes of orange blossom and jasmine stand out, and its herbal touches reminiscent of mint, thyme and citrus fruits such as grapefruit and something tropical like papaya. After opening, spicy notes of paprika, saffron and red flowers are perceived.
In the mouth it is a vibrant wine, with marked acidity that refreshes and a pleasant tension on the palate. It is of medium volume, with good texture and herbal and fruity expression.
Heerlijk wijn!
