Skin Contact is a package for anyone who wants to discover just how much expression, texture, and food-friendliness orange wine can offer. Here, three very different interpretations of skin contact come together: a structured and spicy Grechetto from Umbria, an aromatic and naturally wild Gewürztraminer from Alsace, and an amber-colored, sun-warmed yet fresh Fiano from Puglia. Together, they show that orange wine is not one single style, but a whole spectrum of flavor, tannin, and gastronomic possibility.
Why these wines were selected
These three wines were selected because they show three strong sides of skin contact. Plani Arche – Gordito Grechetto Orange represents structure, energy, and a gentle bitterness. Becker Gewürtztaminer Orange Naturerepresents aromatics, natural wine character, and a more uncompromising expression. Schola Sarmenti – Cortices Fiano Orange represents balance, warmth, and gastronomic versatility. Together, they create a package that feels both geeky, useful, and very clear in style.
The wines
Plani Arche – Gordito Grechetto Orange
How it is made
Gordito is made from 100% Grechetto in Umbria. The wine ferments with the skins and then ages in stainless steel together with the skins for around 4–6 months, depending on the vintage. The producer works organically and biodynamically, and the style is clearly built to deliver color, tannin, and texture.
How it tastes
This is an orange wine with real backbone. The palate leans toward persimmon, orange peel, pomelo, and warm spices, with a delicate bitter edge and a long, lively finish. The tannins are noticeable but fine, giving the wine both energy and grip.
What it pairs with
Gordito was selected because it is an orange wine that truly loves food. It works especially well with charcuterie, meat, and aged cheeses — in other words, salty, rustic dishes with texture and a bit of richness that can meet the wine’s tannin and lightly bitter grip.
Becker Gewürtztaminer Orange Nature
How it is made
This wine is made from Gewürztraminer by Domaine Jean Becker in Alsace. The grapes come from Hohrain and the Grand Cru site Froehn. It is made as an orange wine with skin contact, hand-harvested, partly aged in oak for six months, unfiltered, and produced without added sulfites. The aim is a dry orange wine where the grape’s aromatic profile is preserved while gaining more structure and depth through maceration.
How it tastes
Becker’s orange is the most expressive bottle in the package. The nose is intense, with lychee, ripe peach, apricot, tropical fruit, rose water, and floral notes. On the palate, it is full-bodied, almost oily, completely dry, yet with such rich fruit that it can almost suggest a feeling of residual sweetness. The tannins are mild and soft, and there is a lightly rustic natural-wine tone that makes the wine feel even more alive.
What it pairs with
This is the bottle for aromatic and spice-driven dishes. It works particularly well as an aperitif, with tapas, cheese, and oriental-style dishes such as satay, but also with Asian cuisines more broadly. It is therefore an especially strong orange wine when the food has both sweetness, spice, and lots of perfume.
Schola Sarmenti – Cortices Fiano Orange
How it is made
Cortices is made from Fiano in Puglia and vinified like a red wine at controlled temperature, with around 13 days of maceration together with skins and seeds. This process extracts both color and tannin and gives the wine its amber tone. The wine comes across as authentic, macerated, and roughly filtered, which reinforces its texture and character.
How it tastes
Cortices is the most balanced and gastronomic wine in the trio. The nose moves between herbal notes, apricot, honey, and a light balsamic freshness. On the palate, there is a clear yet gentle structure, with discreet tannin, fine fruit, and an expression that feels both warm and fresh at the same time.
What it pairs with
Thanks to its combination of herbal notes, ripe fruit, freshness, and soft tannin, Cortices works especially well with roasted vegetables, grilled fish or chicken, mushroom dishes, and cheeses with a little salt but not too much weight. It is the most all-round gastronomic orange wine in the package.
Short closing text for the package
Skalkontakt is three orange wines with three distinct personalities. One for structure, one for aromatics, and one for balance. It is a package for anyone who wants to understand why skin contact has become a category of its own at the table — not as a trend, but as a style.
