A Laranja Mecânica 2018 by Fitapreta, Alentejo

Today let me show you a savory orange wine from the Alentejo region of Portugal.

The wine is called A Laranja Mecânica, and is made by António Maçanita winemaker at Fitapreta winery.

This 2018 vintage wine was blended from the Arinto, Roupeiro, Verdelho, Antão Vaz, Boal de Alincante, Trincadeira-das-Pratas and Fernão Pires grape varieties.

The orange wine is a skin-contact white wine, is made from white grapes where the grape skins are not removed, as in typical white wine production, and stay in contact with the juice for days or even months.

After opening this bottle, what you first notice is the pale amber color, like honey mixed with orange juice.

What a rare wine!

The fresh citrus smell, mainly orange smoothen with peaches, on the nose. On the palate, some minerality with more sweet notes like at a late harvest.

Good balance and structure with a long finish, accompanied by the intense acidity.

Excellent body with a 12% alcohol level.

Winemaking: The grapes, after the first pressing, were macerated for about a week, with the little juice leftover (10% to 15%), then these masses were pressed again, the released juice was decanted cold with spontaneous fermentation, no sulfurous was added until the end of the fermentation. There was then a complete, spontaneous malolactic fermentation, stabilization was done with bentonite, without any filtration.

Enjoy this wine with strong cheese, olives, mushrooms or any roasted meals.

Cheers!