France is known for its vin rouge, vin blanc and even vin rose – but certainly not vin bleu. Yet entrepreneur René Le Bail has created a completely natural turquoise-colored tipple which has even garnered attention from France’s wine-making capital, Bordeaux. “Vindigo” is a Chardonnay white wine which is put through a pulp of red grape skin. A pigment in the skin then turns the wine a vibrant blue. Le Bail – who has described the drink as the “ideal wine for the summer” – was not initially met by much enthusiasm from his French countrymen. With wine’s unique cultural significance in France, vineyards were quick to refuse Le Bail’s approaches to make his blue alternative. Le Bail was forced to relocate his production to Andalucia, Spain. Now he is selling the vin bleu in his homeland out of the port city of Sète in the South of France, but still dreams of convincing a vineyard to grow his wine locally. Le Bail now has orders from Britain, China, Indonesia, Italy and Belgium.
Photo credit: the west.com.au
