LS Merchants Breakfast Juice 2026

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Light amber-orange with a warm, softly glowing hue.
• Aromatics: An expressive mixture of lychee, mango, rosewater, orange peel and ripe tropical fruit.
• Palate: Juicy guava, mandarin peel and white stone fruit are joined by fresh orange zest.
• Texture: Light-bodied but gently textural, with fine skin-derived grip giving the wine more substance than a conventional white.
• Acidity: Bright and refreshing, balancing the ripe tropical flavours and keeping the palate lively.
• Finish: Clean and moreish, with lingering citrus peel, tropical fruit and subtle floral character.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2026
• Style: Orange wine and skin-contact white
• Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris
• Winemaking: Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc fermented with Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris skins
• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
• Alcohol: 12.8%
• Body: Light-bodied
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Serving temperature: Approximately 10°C
• Cellaring: Best enjoyed now for its bright fruit and aromatic freshness

What Is Orange Wine?

Orange wine is made from white grapes, but the juice is left in contact with the grape skins during fermentation. Most conventional white wines are pressed away from their skins before fermentation begins. This preserves freshness and produces a pale colour with very little tannin. Leaving white wine in contact with the skins extracts additional colour, aroma, flavour and texture. Depending on the grapes and length of contact, the result can range from lightly golden and delicate to deeply amber, savoury and firmly structured.

Breakfast Juice sits towards the approachable end of that spectrum. It has enough skin-derived texture to make it interesting, while remaining light, juicy and refreshing.

Four Varieties Working Together

Breakfast Juice uses four varieties with very different personalities.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc brings freshness, bright acidity and citrus-driven energy. It prevents the tropical fruit and skin-contact texture from making the wine feel broad or heavy.

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is naturally high in acidity and can contribute flavours of apple, quince, citrus and white stone fruit.

Here, it gives the wine structure and length while helping create its particularly mouthwatering finish.

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer is one of the world’s most aromatic grape varieties, commonly associated with lychee, rose petals, ginger and exotic tropical fruit.

Fermenting the wine with Gewürztraminer skins introduces perfume, floral character and a gentle suggestion of Turkish delight.

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris skins can carry considerably more colour than those of many other white varieties.

They help build the wine’s attractive amber-orange appearance while contributing further texture, spice and ripe fruit character.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve LS Merchants Breakfast Juice at approximately 10°C.

This is slightly warmer than refrigerator temperature. Serving it too cold can temporarily hide its lychee, mango and rosewater aromas, as well as the texture created by the grape skins. If the bottle has been stored in a warm Perth room at around 22 to 24°C, refrigerate it for approximately 60 to 90 minutes before opening.

There is no need to decant it, although allowing the wine to sit in the glass for several minutes will help its exotic aromatics become more expressive. The 2026 vintage is drinking well now and is best enjoyed for its current fruit, perfume and freshness rather than kept for extended cellaring.

Food Pairing 

• Thai food: Lychee, mango and rosewater complement aromatic herbs, chilli, coconut and lemongrass.
• Vietnamese dishes: Try it with rice-paper rolls, lemongrass chicken or a fresh noodle salad.
• Charcuterie: The acidity and gentle tannins work well with salami, prosciutto and pâté.
• Soft cheese: Brie, Camembert, washed-rind cheese and creamy goat’s cheese complement its fruit and texture.
• Spiced chicken: Pair it with tandoori chicken, chicken skewers or a lightly spiced roast.
• Pork belly: Bright acidity refreshes the palate, while the tropical fruit complements sweet and savoury glazes.
• Grilled prawns: Citrus peel and tropical fruit pair beautifully with prawns, chilli and fresh herbs.
• Vegetable dishes: Roasted pumpkin, charred cauliflower and grilled eggplant work well with its gentle grip and savoury edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does orange wine contain oranges?

No. Orange wine is made entirely from grapes.

The name refers to the amber or orange colour produced when white grape juice is fermented in contact with grape skins.

Breakfast Juice does, however, show genuine orange-peel and mandarin-like flavours created naturally by the grapes and fermentation.

Is this a white wine?

Technically, it begins as a white wine because it is made from white grape varieties.

The extended contact with grape skins gives it additional colour, tannin and texture, placing it in the orange or skin-contact wine category.

Is Breakfast Juice sweet?

Its lychee, mango and guava flavours can create an impression of sweetness, but bright acidity and citrus-peel character keep the wine fresh rather than cloying.

It is more fruit-driven and aromatic than conventionally sweet.

What does skin-contact wine taste like?

Skin-contact wines generally have more texture and gentle tannin than standard white wines. They can show flavours including citrus peel, dried fruit, tea, herbs and spice.

Breakfast Juice is particularly approachable, with juicy tropical fruit and floral aromas leading its more savoury and textural elements.

Will I like it if I have never tried orange wine?

Breakfast Juice is an excellent starting point.

Some orange wines can be deeply savoury, cloudy or firmly tannic. This wine remains light-bodied, fruit-driven and refreshing, making the style easier to understand for someone trying it for the first time.

What does fermenting on grape skins do?

Grape skins contain colour, aromatic compounds and tannins.

Fermenting the juice with the skins extracts these components, creating additional flavour, perfume and texture. The gentle drying sensation on the palate comes from the same type of tannins found in red wine, although at a much softer level here.

Why use Gewürztraminer skins?

Gewürztraminer is intensely aromatic, with characteristic notes of lychee, roses and exotic spice.

Its skins help give Breakfast Juice its distinctive floral perfume and tropical-fruit personality.

Why is it called Breakfast Juice?

The name plays on the wine’s bright colour, juicy fruit and easy-drinking character.

It is still a 12.8% alcoholic wine rather than actual breakfast juice, so it is best saved for an afternoon gathering, long lunch or dinner.

How long can I keep it?

The 2026 vintage is ready to drink now.

Its main appeal is its bright aromatics, tropical fruit and freshness, so there is little advantage in holding it for extended cellaring.