In the glass
Aroma: dried apricot, orange peel, dried herbs, honey
Palate: textural skin grip, savoury complexity, salty minerality, long oxidative finish
Tenuta Lieselehof's experimental orange (skin-contact white) wine from disease-resistant Piwi varieties (Souvignier Gris, Bronner). Among the cellar's distinctive Excellence Collection bottlings; demonstrates the natural-leaning, low-intervention philosophy on the estate's 5 organic hectares.
What it pairs with
-
Spiced lentil dahl
Orange wine's textural skin grip and oxidative depth meet lentils' earthy spice register. -
Aged Manchego with quince
Skin-contact texture and dried-apricot notes match aged sheep's milk cheese; quince echoes orange peel. -
Slow-roasted root vegetables
The wine's savoury complexity and tannic grip match caramelised root veg.
History
Werner Morandell developed Julian Orange in the mid-2010s as part of Lieselehof's Excellence Collection, showcasing the cellar's commitment to Piwi disease-resistant grape varieties. The orange (skin-contact) winemaking fits the estate's natural-leaning, organic philosophy.
- 2015 — First Julian Orange vintage launched in the Excellence Collection
Facts
- Producer
- Tenuta Lieselehof
- Grapes
- Souvignier Gris, Bronner
- Classification
- IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti
- Oak
- Skin-contact fermentation, then wood ageing on the lees for several months
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 45 to 65 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3 to 10 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2015
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Frequently asked about Julian Orange
What does Julian Orange taste like?
Dried apricot, orange peel, dried herbs and honey on the nose; textural skin grip, savoury complexity, salty minerality and a long oxidative finish on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity.
When should I drink Julian Orange?
Drink between 3 and 10 years from vintage. Orange wines develop oxidative complexity with age; young vintages show vibrant skin-contact texture and freshness.
What grapes are in Julian Orange?
A blend of disease-resistant Piwi varieties (typically Souvignier Gris and Bronner). The Lieselehof estate runs an educational trail showcasing 350 international grape varieties including these modern Piwi crosses.
What is orange wine?
White wine made with extended skin contact (like red wine), producing tannin, oxidative complexity, and a textural mouthfeel that distinguishes it from conventionally-pressed whites. The Caldaro and broader Alto Adige region has multiple producers exploring the category.