Karas 2022 Kraki Ktor Orange Wine Armenia

Origin - Ararat Valley, Armavir, Armenia.

Grape Varietal - Kangun

Soil - Volcanic. Lightly eroded clay formed by basalt, high levels of carbonate and limestone, volcanic tuff and alluvial stones.

Climate - Continental, cold semi-arid with warm summers and dry cold winters. Annual precipitation level is around 305 mm.

Vinification - Night manual harvest in 20kg boxes followed selection table. Skin contact for 10 months in stainless steel tanks. This wine was not filtered or stabilized.

What is Orange Wine?

Orange wine, also known as skin contact wine or Amber wine, is a style of wine made with grapes, that is made by fermenting grape juice together with the grape skins, just like red wines. Unlike traditional white wines, which are made by separating the juice from the skins before fermentation, skin contact wines embrace the power and flavors that the skins impart. The pigments and tannins extracted from the grape skins ultimately determine the wine’s appearance, texture, and flavor. The resulting white wine has a much higher amount of tannins and a hue that is often referred to as appearing orange or amber. This style of wine is often described as funkier and earthier, and it drinks a bit more like red wine.

More and more wineries in Armenia are making skin contact white wines, which was the traditional way of making wine, going back few millennia, using indigenous Armenian grape varietals. Karas Kraki Ktor (which literally means piece of fire) is made with 100% Kangun grapes sourced from the historic Ararat Valley and Armavir region.

Meticulously vinified with a 10-month skin contact in stainless steel tanks, this unfiltered and unstabilized wine showcases the authentic essence of Armenia's terroir, allowing the natural flavors to shine through. Each sip is a journey through ancient soils, a celebration of Kangun grapes, and a nod to the artistry of Armenian winemaking.