14/10/26 - the Tale of Two Orange Wines

● What: Macabeo Maceración 2025 by Parajes del Valle Winery (Jumilla, Spain); Alvarinho 2024 by A Desconhecida (Lisbon, Portugal)

● Where: Forza Wine, London

● With: A talented, art-loving friend whose birthday is tomorrow

Notes:

● Being a skin-contact, the Macabeo tasted rather mild, with just a hint of dried apricot, cidery zing and orange blossom. Nothing too loud. While the Alvarinho my friend had was pretty tannic and grapey. On the nose, though, the Macabeo was more expressive than the Alvarinho.

Price range (per glass): £8-9

(The prices above are based on the UK market and are for reference only, calculated using data available as of the date shown in the post title.)

Will I try again? No, because there are always new orange wines out there that are worth trying.

Right by the Thames, Forza wine is only a stone’s throw from BFI where its namesake London Film Festival 2026 now takes place, till 18 October. I’ve been to BFI twice and have enjoyed very much the film and the environment both times. This place also reminds me so much of my university years while I was a die-hard filmaholic back in Taipei.