El Troyano Orange Wine

A great introduction to ‘orange wine’, which you may have seen appear on various restaurant lists and wine bars over recent years. Essentially a white wine, that has been in contact or fermented on its skins (normally removed). This example is made from Verdejo grapes, macerated in 200 litre clay amphora and large French oak vats. Pump overs help extract the amber colours and lees ageing adds smoothness and complexity. The result is an intriguing and refreshing wine with aromas of peach and orange. On the palate, it is savoury and persistent, with marked acidity and delicate hints of spice. Great with food, particuarly appetisers, salmon, grilled chicken and semi-cured cheese like Manchego. Best drank lightly chilled, why not try ‘Orange’?

• Featured by Jane MacQuitty for The Times, The Best Orange Wines to Buy Now, “… this is a cloudy, musky yet bright, herby and citrus-tangy verjejo whizz.” (2024 vintage)
• Wine of the Week, Joanna Simon, “Perhaps it’s a bit of an exaggeration to suggest El Troyano is so different from anything else (I’m not exaggerating about the deliciousness), but it doesn’t taste quite like any other wine. It’s a slightly hazy, pale apricot colour and enticingly aromatic, with redcurrant, orange and camomile notes, a softly tangy, juicy palate with a little savoury meatiness in the middle, a rounded, smooth texture, a touch of spice and the gentlest grip on the finish.” (2024 vintage)
• Simon J Woolf, vinepair.com, “This wine, from Parra Jimenez, wins the most-fun-wine-I’ve-tasted-all-year award. Bright, tangy redcurrant & rhubarb fruit, with a subtle tannic prickle that does exactly what rhubarb does to your tongue. And a lovely creamy finish that underpins the fruit. Who knew that Verdejo, grown biodynamically in La Mancha, could create this sort of rosé-with-attitude? Super fresh, fun & Genre-busting in every possible way.” August 2020