Sand-Reckoner Vineyards is set to launch their inaugural 2016 Orange Roussanne this Saturday, October 28.
If you’re unfamiliar with orange wine, they’re made with white grapes using a process known as skin-contact fermentation. Typically, white wine production involves removing the skins and seeds post crush as to not impart much, if any, color into the finished wine. This allows for clear, clean white wines.
With skin-contact fermentation, the crushed grapes sit with their skin and seeds, imparting the some of grape’s color into the finished wine. The length of time the skins and seeds sit with the fermenting wine affects the resulting color and taste of the wine.
For Sand-Reckoner’s Orange Roussanne, the skins and seeds were left in contact with the wine for 40 days. The unfiltered wine was then aged for 10 months in neutral oak barrels before bottling.
Roussanne is a classic French grape of the Rhone Valley. Typically blended with Marsanne, finding a 100% single-varietal Rousanne is no easy feat, let alone an orange version.
Sand-Reckoner’s successful attempt is slightly cloudy, with a golden amber hue, indicative of the Rousanne grape itself. The name Rousanne is thought to have stemmed from the grape’s rust-like color. Sand-Reckoner’s 2016 Orange Roussanne falls on the sweeter side, with floral notes on the nose and a honeyed fruit taste on the palate.
This wine will only be available in the tasting room at 510 N. 7th Ave, Unit 170, where you can taste by the glass or pick up a bottle to go ($35).
If you’re interested in grabbing a bottle of the Orange Rousanne, or glass, and can’t make it to the tasting room for the release, you’ll want to get to the tasting room soon. It’s an extremely limited release with only 45 cases available. For comparison, a typical Sand-Reckoner bottling produces 150 cases.
And have some fun while you’re at it. Wear your costume to the tasting room for the launch and you’ll receive $2 off your glass.
Sand-Reckoner Vineyards Tucson tasting room is located at 510 N. 7th Ave. Keep up with Sand-Reckoner Vineyards on Facebook.
