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A successful dinner party is never complete without good wine. You can go through the stress of trying to find a bottle that perfectly pairs with each course, but why put yourself through that? Instead, I tend to gravitate towards easy-drinking, food-friendly wines that complement a number of different dishes and shine throughout the night. The current bottle stealing the show at all the dinner parties I host and attend just so happens to be Gulp/Hablo's orange wine.
I know—how pretentious of me to choose an orange wine, but Gulp/Hablo's offering is much more approachable than some of its neighbors at the wine shop. For background, orange wines are simply white wines made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, giving the final product an orange-ish hue (there are no actual oranges in it). While this technique dates back thousands of years to regions in current-day Georgia, "skin-contact white wines" have seen a major resurgence among winemakers—and wine lovers—over the last 10 years.
It's tricky to pinpoint the exact flavor profile of orange wines as they can be made with a wide variety of white grapes, but many times, you'll hear people refer to them as "funky" or robust. Gulp/Hablo's orange wine has that initial depth of flavor (read: funk) one expects, but it's also delightfully refreshing and acidic. I almost passed this unassuming bottle at my local wine shop until a fellow patron noted she loved it and that it was a must-try. I'm glad I listened to her.
Made in the Castilla La Mancha region of Spain, Gulp/Hablo blends together verdejo and sauvignon blanc grapes to create an aromatic, juicy orange wine. Upon the initial taste of this dry wine, you're met with strong notes of jackfruit and dried citrus peel, though it eventually mellows out and leaves a slight tannic tea aftertaste.
Each time I take a sip I find myself tasting or noticing something new. Bolder than a traditional sauvignon blanc or bubbly vinho verde, I worried it would be hard to serve this wine at dinner parties. However, time and again, I find it pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes from creamy mushroom pasta to miso-glazed salmon. It's definitely one of the best wines for spring—and beyond.
And how do I know it's a winner among my friend group? The morning after a party, I'm almost always met with a couple of empty Gulp/Hablo bottles on my counter and a text from a friend asking for a photo of the label.
The Perfect Glasses for the Wine
Estelle Colored Glass Estelle Hand-Blown Colored Wine Glasses
Estelle Colored Glass Estelle Hand-Blown Colored Wine Glasses
Sarah DiMarco (she/her) is the associate editor at VERANDA, covering all things design, architecture, art, gardens, jewelry, travel, wine and spirits. She also manages social media for the brand.
