A dry, skin-contact Alsace orange wine that combines aromatic varieties with texture, freshness, and light tannic structure.
The 2025 Qui L’Eût Cru? shows mandarin and citrus peel alongside floral notes, honey, almond and spice. Extended skin contact gives the wine its orange color and adds a subtle tannic grip, while stainless-steel aging preserves freshness.
Distinctive without being excessively oxidative or heavy, this is an accessible introduction to the orange-wine style.
Region: Alsace, France
Appellation: Alsace AOC
Vintage: 2025
Producer: Gustave Lorentz
Grapes: Pinot Blanc · Pinot Gris · Gewürztraminer · Sylvaner
Alcohol: Approximately 14% ABV
Residual Sugar: <3 g/L
Harvest: Hand-Harvested
Vinification: Skin Maceration & Spontaneous Fermentation
Aging: Stainless Steel
Filtration: Unfiltered
Added Sulfur: None
Style: Dry Orange / Skin-Contact Wine
Orange wine is produced from white grapes using a technique normally associated with red-wine production: the juice remains in contact with the grape skins during fermentation.
This extracts color, aromatic compounds and tannin, giving the finished wine greater texture and structure than a conventionally made white wine.
Nose:
Mandarin, orange peel and ripe orchard fruit, with rose, honey, almond and warm spice.
Palate:
Dry and relatively full, with citrus peel and ripe fruit supported by fresh acidity and light tannic grip. Floral and spicy notes emerge as the wine opens.
Structure:
Medium to full-bodied, with moderate tannin from skin contact. Fresh acidity balances the wine's broader texture and aromatic intensity.
Finish:
Persistent and dry, with citrus peel, spice, almond, and floral notes.
Qui L’Eût Cru?, meaning roughly “Who would have thought?”, is Gustave Lorentz's interpretation of an orange wine.
Rather than pressing the white grapes immediately and separating the juice from the skins, the grapes undergo extended skin contact. This gives the wine its distinctive color, additional texture, and light tannic structure.
The blend brings together several traditional Alsace varieties. Pinot Blanc provides freshness and balance; Pinot Gris adds body; Gewürztraminer brings floral and spicy aromatics; and Sylvaner adds freshness and structure.
The wine is spontaneously fermented, matured in stainless steel, and bottled unfiltered without added sulfur.
The result sits between conventional white wine and light red wine in texture: aromatic and fresh, but with enough tannin and structure to pair with foods that can be difficult to match with traditional white wines.
The 2025 is immediately expressive, with mandarin, citrus peel, flowers, honey, almond, and spice.
Despite its aromatic profile, the wine is dry, with less than 3 g/L residual sugar.
The combination of skin contact and relatively full body gives the wine more structure than a conventional Alsace white, while the acidity keeps the finish fresh.
Drink: Now–2029
Preferred Window: 2026–2028
The 2025 is ready to drink now and is primarily intended for relatively early consumption.
Its appeal lies in the combination of fresh aromatics, skin-contact texture, and gentle tannin rather than extended bottle development.
Serve slightly warmer than a conventional light white wine to allow the aromatics and texture to show.
Serving Temperature: 10–12°C
The combination of aromatic intensity, acidity, and light tannin makes this particularly useful with strongly flavored and spiced dishes.
Recommended Pairings:
Thai Cuisine · Indian Cuisine · Moroccan Spices · Roast Chicken · Pork · Duck · Grilled Seafood · Mushroom Risotto · Roasted Vegetables · Pumpkin · Washed-Rind Cheese · Comté
Pair with spiced roast chicken, mushroom risotto, or Asian dishes with ginger and aromatic spices.
The wine's Gewürztraminer component works naturally with spice, while its skin-contact tannin gives it sufficient structure for richer dishes.
It is also an interesting option with washed-rind cheeses, where the wine's floral, citrus, and lightly tannic character provides a useful counterpoint to the richness of the cheese.
For guests unfamiliar with orange wine, Qui L’Eût Cru? is a useful introduction: clearly a skin-contact wine in texture and character, but still recognizably Alsace in its aromatic profile.
