The Itata Valley is one of Chile's oldest wine-growing regions and is home to some of the oldest vines in the country. The valley boasts beautiful, gentle rolling hills and is home to one of the oldest coastal ranges in Chile. The region has a cool Mediterranean-type climate influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Due to the cool temperatures, the vines are trained to grow "en cabeza," which resembles a head with little spikes. This type of training keeps the vines closer to the ground and the grapes warm from the cool Pacific breeze.
While Orange Wine may be trending, it's an old method for making white wine. In Itata Valley, "Orange Wine" is considered white wine. This is because pressing grapes is an expensive, relatively new technology. Because of the cost, white wine technology never made it to the Itata Valley, and the region's winemakers relied on more traditional ways of making wine.
What is Orange Wine/Amber Wine/Skin-Contact Wine
Orange wine, also known as amber wine, is a type of wine made from white grapes that are left in contact with their skins for an extended period of time, resulting in a wine that has a deep orange or amber color with a weightier mouthfeel.
Orange wine has been made in various regions throughout the world for centuries, and each region has its own cultural and linguistic traditions. As a result, orange wine has been called different names in different languages, such as "ramato" in Italian, "qvevri" in Georgian, and "maceration" in French or just "vino blanco" in Chile.
The term "orange wine" itself is relatively new and only gained popularity in the 21st century, due to the rise of natural and organic winemaking practices.
