SINGIN’ THE BLUE WINE BLUES

IT’S GENERATED QUITE a buzz with the Millennial set and been highly visible throughout all social media outlets but Spanish authorities have told the makers of Gik “blue wine” that they can no longer label it as wine. Gik has sold close to 1OO,OOO bottles in 25 countries, but a court ruled that since there is no “blue wine” category among the 17 listed wine products mentioned in Annex VII part II of Regulation 13O8/2O13, Gik cannot be labelled as wine. The troubles began last August when the company’s headquarters were visited by government inspectors who told the company to stop production pending an investigation. Gik will now have to change the labelling on the product to “99 percent wine and 1 percent grape must” to ensure the product meets the requirements of current legislation. “It is absurd because its composition is 1OO percent wine,” Gik said in a statement. The blue hue is created with anthyocyacin, a natural pigment extracted from grape skin, and indigo, a natural dye derived from the woad plant. “When we created Gik, our aim was to innovate in the most traditional sector of our country: wine industry,” Gik stated in a petition on Change.org calling for support in their fight for recognition as a wine. Public support for the company has been somewhat tepid with fewer than 5O supporters signing it as of February 1. Perhaps blue isn’t really an ideal color for wine after all.