WHAT IN THE LIVING F$#K IS GLOU-GLOU WINE?
If you’re new to the wine term “Glou-Glou,” you’re not alone.
No, “glou-glou” does not refer to the noises babies make. “Glou-glou” is a new(ish) word in the wine lexicon that refers to a certain style of wine. Glous usually are red, orange or rosé wines that are drinkable enough to the point where you can just throw those puppies right on back.
The wine gets its name, “glou-glou,” from the sound of the liquid pouring out of the bottle. It’s a term that originated in France from French importers. But basically, all you need to know is if you want to purchase a glou-glou wine, or describe a wine as glou-glou, the only essential thing about this wine is it needs to be something that’s easily drinkable and has that “porch pounder,” factor.
WHAT DO GLOU-GLOU WINES - OR GLOUS - TASTE LIKE?
That’s a really interesting question, because glous can taste like pretty much anything. I think “glou-glou” is more of a textural descriptor. Wines that are described as, “glou-glou” have to be juicy and not tannic. They are typically more acidic, and live somewhere in the spectrum between grape juice and wine.
I’ve noticed a lot of Glou-glous have a Kombucha-like tang to them, and the texture of… well… juice. Glou-glou wines are typically lower in alcohol as well, and often live somewhere within the 10-12 percent ABV range. These wines are meant to quench your thirst and are considered the ultimate day drinking wine.
HOW ARE GLOUS MADE?
Glous are typically made by the process of carbonic maceration, something that is widely practiced within the Beaujolais AOC.
When a wine undergoes carbonic maceration, whole clusters of grapes are put into a sealed vat of CO2, and the berries end up fermenting without Oxygen. What happens here is that the grapes do all the work themselves, and crush themselves under the weight of the alcohol they produce.
This leads to a very fruity, drinkable, juicy, and soft wine.
WHAT DO I PAIR WITH MY BOTTLE OF GLOU?
The beauty of glous are that you don’t have to pair them with anything! These wines are so casual and crushable, you can drink them on their own!
I tend to gravitate toward glous when it’s unbearably hot outside, and I just want something light, easy, juicy and happy! Glous are great for outdoor parties in the Summer, laying by the pool, and going to the beach. If your friend is having a summertime cookout, bring a bottle of glou-glou and let the fun begin!
PICK OF THE WEEK: LES VINS DE PIROUETTES, “ULTRA VIOLET DE DAVID” $29.00 @ Stanley’s LA
Just because this is a glou doesn’t mean it’s uncomplicated. A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Riesling and Gewürztraminer, this ultra-violet, ultra-chill wine is like drinking some damn good purple rain. Seriously, Prince (RIP) would approve.
There’s almost a Syrah-like darkness (mostly kicked up black fruit) in this wine. This is probably because Alsatian Pinot Noir doesn’t mess around, and if you’ve read my post on Alsace you would understand Pinots from that part of the world are very intense and almost smoky in terms of aroma profile.
Sure, there’s a dark and brooding complexity to this wine and maybe it’s a little emo and warped, but it’s also super fun and happy as well. A delightful, complicated and gluggable contradiction. Honestly, it makes me think of this meme I found on Glossy Zodiac.
For folks who aren’t in the know, this wine was the brainchild of natty wine legend, Christian Binner. Christian came up with the Les Vins de Pirouettes project as part of a collective because he kept seeing growers produce gorgeous fruit that would get sold off for a pittance to cooperatives within the Alsace region.
So he decided to create a winemaking commune of sorts, featuring wines with zero intervention - which means zero sulfur, pesticides, or interference of any kind - both within the vineyard and the cellar. All the winemakers in this community get credit for their work, with their names featured on the label. And finally, that glorious fruit can get turned into glorious, sulfur-free wine! These wines are truly about freedom of expression - hence the name, “Les Vins de Pirouettes.”
Since this wine is a glou, you don’t need to pair it with food. Just pair it with hot days and evening pool parties.