Aus Orange 2021

Produced by Celler de les Aus, a brand of bodega Alta Alella, Aus Orange is a compelling Spanish white wine made following the “brisat” technique, which results in something akin to an orange wine. Interestingly, this wine takes the the organic approach to winemaking one step further, since it is produced with low sulfites and minimal intervention techniques.

A blend of Pansa Rosada (Xarel·lo Vermell, or Red Xarel·lo) and Pansa Blanca (Xarel·lo), two varieties indigenous to the Alella region, this natural white wine comes from vineyards located in the Serra de Marina mountain range, just a 20-minute drive away from Barcelona. The vines are planted in sauló soils -a kind of decomposed granite- and the area has a benign, typically Mediterranean climate.

The hand-picked grapes were first gently pressed to obtain the free-run juice, which was fermented in sauló vessels. Then this brisat white wine was macerated with the skins for 2 months in the vessels. The convective forces present in the vessels cause the lees to keep moving in constant suspension, which in turn gives the wine more creaminess and structure. Finally, Aus Orange 2021 was bottled with no added sulphur.

This brisat white wine from Alella is one of Catalonia’s absolute best orange wines.

It must be mentioned that, due to the commitment to sustainability of Celler de les Aus, all of its wines come in reused Cava bottles.