France’s first blue wine launches at Frieze

The first blue fizz made from French grapes will be launched at Frieze art fair in London this week, and its makers claim that it “tastes better than Champagne”.

The colour of Eden was inspired by International Klein Blue

Eden is made from Chardonnay grapes from Provence and has a high dosage of 38g/l. It is said to offer aromas of “white peach with hints of passion fruit”.

The wine has a higher sweetness level so that it can be enjoyed over ice. Its maker, French-born, London-based entrepreneur Aymeric V Bruneau, took inspiration from artist Yves Klein’s trademarked International Klein Blue for the colour of the wine.

A single bottle of Eden will set you back £45

Klein believed this ultramarine shade of blue had a quality close to pure space and he associated it with immaterial values beyond what can be seen or touched.

Bruneau meanwhile, hopes the colour will conjure fond memories of the Mediterranean sea and the enviable lifestyle enjoyed by those who live on the French Riviera.

“We created Eden with elegance in mind, artistic spirit in soul and art-de-vivre in essence,” he said.

Winemaking runs in Bruneau’s family – his great grandfather, Gaston, founded the Mareau-aux-Pres winery close to Orleans in 1931, while his grandfather Valere made pear brandy.

A single 75cl bottle of Eden costs £45, while a Jeroboam will set you back £315.

The wine will be unveiled tonight at Frieze London art fair, which brings together 160 of the world’s top contemporary galleries and works by emerging artists.

Blue fizz has emerged as one of the most unlikely drinks trends of 2017. This May Blumond, a 7% abv ‘wine’ made from a blend of Prosecco, blue curaçao and peach sparked outrage in Italy, where it was called an “insult” to tradition by Wladimiro Gobbo, a member of Italy’s Sommelier Association.

In August English entrepreneur Chris Arbery launched a blue ‘Cava’ in the UK called Skyfall made from a blend of Macabeu, Parellada, Xarel-lo and Chardonnay in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia in Penedès.