Wine Fads – Would You Drink Blue Wine?

Wine has inspired writers and presidents and become an important part of the history and religion of many different cultures. In our contemporary society, wine continues to be extremely important.

It is often been a part of rituals, meals and it has even been associated with health – many countries, such as those who follow the Mediterranean diet, enjoy a glass of red wine at each meal, a habit said to protect against artery damage and help prevent heart disease through the wine’s antioxidants.

Innovation seems to be unavoidable, since wine has evolved immensely over the years. After all, not only can you now savour wine in many different flavours, typically revolving around herbal, floral and fruity essences, but you can also enjoy it – as well as exhibitions and workshops – in a vast theme park entitled La Cité du Vin, something never seen before.

And now it seems like the world of wine is being revolutionised again by the introduction of something a little bit different: blue wine, made by Gïk.

 

 

 

#GikLive, designed to let you create your own rules ? #vinoazul #bluewine #blauwewijn #blauerwein

A photo posted by Gïk Live! Vino Azul (@giklive) on

Traditionalists may find it odd at a first glance, as the sapphire tones of this wine seem strangely out of place amongst red, white, and rose wines – however, the peculiar colour is strangely fascinating as well, and you may find it difficult to keep away.

According to its creators, the Gïk brand “represents the innovative side of life”, which is further proven by the way they’re doing things: they don’t have a fixed office – instead, they use the Internet and mail to interact with customers and send them their pioneering creation.

According to them, you should:

“Try to forget everything you know about wine. Try to unlearn hundreds of protected wine designations of origin, the complex and demanding service standards and everything that sommelier said at a tasting course to which you were invited. Forget traditions and forget that we are speaking about the liquid which represents the blood of Christ at church.”

This outlook seems to appeal to their core demographic, people aged between 25 and 34 years old who embrace innovation, want to break free from traditions and create their own path, different from the ones that came before.

The way blue wine has been marketed clearly showcases this, then, as they also heavily use Instagram, often considered a social network for young adults. Combined with their unique and forward-thinking attitude, this creates the perfect recipe for success with their audience.

 

 

Gïk spent two years working with Spanish universities, as well as food researchers, to develop this 11.5% ABV wine, which was created from a blend of red and white grapes grown and harvested in Spanish vineyards near Madrid, such as La Rioja, Léon and Castilla-La Mancha. The price is £33 for three bottles.

The colouring of this wine comes from a natural pigment in the skin of the grapes, anthocyanin, and the added sweetness comes from a calorie-free sweetener. Gïk sold 70,000 bottles in their first year, quite an accomplishment considering many wine aficionados could have found the blue tint too distracting or ‘weird’ to even sip it.

 

Other Wine Fads of the Moment

Blue wine is not the only big innovation out there. On the contrary, it seems like you don’t have to enjoy a relaxing and comforting glass of wine in the evening all by yourself, as Apollo Peak, a company in Denver, Colorado, has recently developed a cat-friendly wine. This beverage is non-alcoholic and made of organic catnip, water, beetroot and natural preservatives.

With original names like Pinot Meow and Moscato, your feline companions can start by trying a 1.6oz bottle or attempting to tackle the 8oz immediately, although not all will love this beverage – a typical feline reaction. Even with catnip, some cats didn’t react at all while others completely loved it. Apollo Peak is now working on wine for dogs as well.

 

— Apollo Peak Cat Wine (@thepinotmeow) June 15, 2016

Ava Winery and its creators, Mardonn Chua and Alec Lee, are also making news in the world of wine by providing us with a simple question: can you really make wine without grapes? The San Francisco start-up company is crafting fine wines without using grapes by combining precise levels of ethanol, water, flavour compounds, amino acids and sugars.

Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, as well as a myriad of other chemical tools, the team responsible for producing this unique beverage analysed the composition of wines like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and identified key flavour molecules and quantities. These include ethyl isobutyrate and ethyl hexanoate, which were mixed and experimented with until the resulting wine was created.

 

Wine may be a classic, timeless creation associated with traditional colours and specific target audiences, but things are certainly changing. From a new enthralling colour or wine made without grapes that may divide connoisseurs, to the possibility of your pets enjoying a glass of wine with you, this fascinating world is continuously evolving and showcasing incredible new creations.

 

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