UK’s first-ever orange wine bar opens in London

Silver Lining has opened in Hackney

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The UK’s first orange wine bar has opened in London.

It might sound like a new phenomenon or trend, but orange (or skin contact wine as it’s sometimes referred to), is actually one of the oldest types of wine in the world. 

Despite its amber appearance, orange wine is not made from oranges.

In fact, the wine gets its unique colour when the juice from white grapes is left in “contact” with the skin (a red winemaking technique).

Flavours can vary as they can with any other wine, but it often sits somewhere between white and red wine and can be either dry, sweet, full-bodied, or savoury.

Now, fans of this niche type of wine can drink it by the bottle at Silver Lining in Hackney.

The east London restaurant has transformed itself into a bar dedicated to serving orange wine and offers more than 50 different bottles.

The bar also serves small plates alongside its drinks, such. as French cheeses, anchovies, smoked almonds and more.

Like all bars and restaurants in the UK, Silver Lining was forced to close during lockdown. 

Managing director Sarah Maddox said: "Our closure during lockdown has given us time to plan and reopen with something we’re really passionate about.  

“Currently, even in a specialist establishment, you may only find one or two orange wines on a menu, which is why we’ve continued to work with our fantastic wine growers and suppliers, to present a range of orange and skin-contact wine that really shows the breadth and variety of this category.”

In February, orange wine was dubbed “one of the fastest-growing categories” in the wine industry.

Berkmann Wine purchasing director Alex Hunt told The Morning Advertiser: "There’s a trend we’re seeing - admittedly from a very low base - towards orange wine. 

“Consumers seem to be looking for something that is a little off the beaten track. Something with a real tradition and story behind it.”