Wine Enthusiast: What Happens When You Orange-ify a Favorite Varietal?

October 25, 2024

“Blends are all about building complexity, and skin contact can be a useful tool in that department. An excellent example can be found at Sonoma’s Head High Wines, which makes a gently skin-contacted blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Vermentino and Muscat. After seven days on the skins (all except the Viognier, which is blended in after the fact), the resulting wine is citrus-forward and very floral. Complex and compelling, it displays vibrant flavors without going leaning too far into the crunchier aspects that the skin contact can bring.” – Tom Capo