economy

The surprising boom in blouge wine: ‘It’s for 5pm, in the sun’

Literally a mix of white (blanc) and red (rouge) grapes, the light, fresh tipple is popping up in bars around the world. Move over rosé and orange wine ...

The surprising boom in blouge wine: ‘It’s for 5pm, in the sun’

TL;DR

  • Blouge wine is made by blending white and red grape juices or co-fermenting them.
  • It is characterized as a light, fresh, and juicy wine, often served chilled.
  • The trend is emerging in response to consumer demand for new and innovative wine styles.
  • Natural wine bars and younger drinkers are key demographics driving the popularity of blouge.
  • Blouge offers an accessible entry point into wine, similar to beer or cocktails.
  • The creation of blouge is not entirely new, with historical precedents in blended wines.
  • The rise of blouge coincides with a general shift towards lighter-bodied and chilled red wines.