# Why isn't there a wine made from oranges? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818 "2004-05-06T14:05:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RedDawgEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dbc845/32.png) [@RedDawgEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedDawgEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/1 "2004-05-06T14:05:40Z")
At least I’ve never heard of any. Oranges would seem to have the characteristics needed for the task: easily juiced, lots of natural sugar, great flavor. So, why no wine? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/2 "2004-05-06T14:20:05Z")
I don’t know about wine per se, but there are a couple of liquors made with oranges and a few other ingrediants. The two that came to mind immediately were Mosco from Mexico and Curacao from the island of the same name. While neither of these is what you would figure orange liquor would taste like, oranges are a large part of the ingrediants. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/3 "2004-05-06T14:23:48Z")
I bought a bottle of wine made from oranges when I was on spring break in 1971. It was definitely a real wine, not some sort of Boone’s Farm thing. But it tasted absolutely awful; made Boone’s Farm seem good by comparison. I doubt they put much effort into it. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/4 "2004-05-06T14:24:58Z")
[A good article on the topic of fruit wines:](http://www.sanpasqualwinery.com/infos/wm/ch21.html) > [@](#): > > Making fruit wine is different from making wine from grapes. Grapes have just about the right amount of sugar and acid to make a balanced wine, but most other kinds of fruit require large additions of sugar and significant acid adjustments. Fruit winemaking is more complicated because the acidity of different types of fruit varies over wide ranges. Consequently, when fruit wine is made, the winemaker must carefully measure and adjust both the sugar content and the acid content of the fruit. These basic adjustments are made before fermentation is started. > > … > > **Wine made from oranges oxidizes very easily, and good orange table wines are difficult to make. However, pleasant sherry style wines can be easily made from oranges.** Citrus fruit skins contain considerable oily material, and most winemakers prefer to eliminate skins from citrus fruit fermentations. The membrane under grapefruit skins contains much bitter material, and this white pulpy material should be removed carefully. Think of it this way – wine is “native” to the fermented grape. Other fruits need help to turn into what grapes turn into more or less naturally. So even though oranges have the easily juiced and have significant sugar content, there is the problem of acidity to contend with. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/5 "2004-05-06T14:37:27Z")
> [@kelly5078](#): > > I bought a bottle of wine made from oranges when I was on spring break in 1971. It was definitely a real wine, not some sort of Boone’s Farm thing. But it tasted absolutely awful; made Boone’s Farm seem good by comparison. I doubt they put much effort into it. It might have just plain gone bad. I’m betting orange wine has a very short shelf life … especially with 1971 bottling technology. Did you buy it from a store, or from someone selling it homemade from the back of a truck or something? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/6 "2004-05-06T14:54:59Z")
A guy I used to work with made orange wine every year for I think Memorial day. It was very good, and really snuck up you. Got pretty happy on that wine. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/7 "2004-05-06T15:36:49Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > It might have just plain gone bad. I’m betting orange wine has a very short shelf life … especially with 1971 bottling technology. > > Did you buy it from a store, or from someone selling it homemade from the back of a truck or something? I bought it at a permanent stand in FL. I don’t remember if it was made on site or not. It could have gone bad, but I wasn’t about to try another bottle to find out. Mateus seemed like a better bet. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/8 "2004-05-06T15:37:53Z")
My Dad makes excellent fruit wines, including an orange wine that is to die for. So delicious orange wine is possible to make. Comercialy I know of no orange wine, but there is Lillet (sp?) that is a medium sweet grape wine from France flavoured with orange, it makes a very nice summer drink served on the rocks and is available in Safeways and Bev and More in california and I expect many other places. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/9 "2004-05-06T16:05:03Z")
So is orange Mad Dog (MD 20/20) a real orange wine, or just an orange-flavored grape wine? ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/10 "2004-05-06T17:08:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Why isn’t there a wine made from oranges? Because whenever they try, they keep falling off. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/11 "2004-05-06T17:10:01Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Comercialy I know of no orange wine [Yo](http://www.floridawine.com/introduction.htm). Tasty and local – for me, anyway. Works really great as a chicken marinade, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![hammerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hammerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammerbach)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/12 "2004-05-06T17:16:13Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > My Dad makes excellent fruit wines, including an orange wine that is to die for. So delicious orange wine is possible to make. Comercialy I know of no orange wine, but there is Lillet (sp?) that is a medium sweet grape wine from France flavoured with orange, it makes a very nice summer drink served on the rocks and is available in Safeways and Bev and More in california and I expect many other places. Hello, **Bippy**! Would your dad be willing to share his method? Mine went DISGUSTINGLY wrong (I followed Mrs. Tritton’s instructions.) ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/13 "2004-05-06T17:29:44Z")
Cisco, the fine bum wine, is a blend of Orange and Grape wines. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/14 "2004-05-06T22:38:32Z")
A visit to the back of the greengrocer’s is a clue; overripe grapes smell rich and winey; overripe apples smell mellow and cidery; overripe oranges smell disgusting, like compost. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/15 "2004-05-06T23:10:14Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > So is orange Mad Dog (MD 20/20) a real orange wine, or just an orange-flavored grape wine? Eerie. Y’know I’ve been Googling this question to death, and the only ingredient that is forthcoming is: alcohol. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/16 "2004-05-06T23:30:59Z")
> [@](#): > > So is orange Mad Dog (MD 20/20) a real orange wine, or just an orange-flavored grape wine? Neither. It is the blood of sacrificed virgins fermented by Satan himself. Check out [this hilarious & accurate article](http://www.tcsn.net/rags/bum/) regarding ‘bum wines’… ---
**Author:** ![Hemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hemlock)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/17 "2004-05-07T01:16:40Z")
Go to a supermarket in a strict Muslim country with a Western expat population and look around. Chances are, you will find oranges, yeast, sugar, big plastic fluid containers and maybe even decanter-length bits of hose - possibly in very convenient proximity on the same aisle. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/18 "2004-05-07T01:22:43Z")
Not that I know anything about alcoholic beverages whatsoever, but aren’t there Orange Liquers? ---
**Author:** ![cookeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@cookeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookeze)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/19 "2004-05-07T02:31:12Z")
Well, there’s Pruno: [www.blacktable.com/gillin030901.htm](http://www.blacktable.com/gillin030901.htm) ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818/20 "2004-05-07T03:24:06Z")
You can pick up wine made from oranges at many of those cheesy tourist places off of I-95 in Florida. I suspect the reason it’s never became popular is because of the many reasons given in this thread. **Bordelond’s** post sums it up pretty good. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-a-wine-made-from-oranges/243818.md?page=2)