Have you heard about the latest craze for summer wine? It’s Blouge Wine. The name is a combination of the words ‘blonde’ or ‘blanc’ and ‘rouge’. Thus, the wine is a blend of both red and white grapes. However, this new wine does not have a formal definition or a defined location on wine store shelves because it is not yet an official wine category. Some experts refer to it as wine made by co-fermenting red and white grapes, while others consider it as styles of wine between red and white.

Styles of blouge wines include:

• Short maceration of red grapes: Red grapes spend less time with their skins, producing a lighter colour and softer structure.
• Skin contact on white grapes: This will produce a more orange wine.
• Darker rosé styles: This includes wines that are deeper in colour and structure.
• Co-fermentation of red and white grapes: Red and white grapes are fermented together.

Characteristically, blouge wines will be acidic like white wines, contain soft tannins, have bright fruitiness with hints of berries, citrus or cherries. It may be like a light red wine or a more complex white wine. Many blouge-style wines are best enjoyed slightly chilled, like a white or Rosé.

Because blouge is not a formal wine category, not every relevant bottle has ‘blouge’ on the label. Shoppers may need to look for phrases like red-white co-ferment, white and red grapes, field blend, light red, chilled red, or pale red.

Blouge wines generally pair well with light pasta dishes, grilled vegetables, chicken or seafood.

Before summer disappears, give blouge a try.

Sláinte mhaith