When wines spell trouble for Gérard Bertrand…

hen it comes to Languedoc trader Gérard Bertrand, expect the unexpected. At Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, he launched the ‘Trouble’ range of white, rosé and red wines labelled Vin De France. The name is a nod to the French word for cloudy, alluding to the milky appearance of the wines in the bottle. Both organic and vegan, they are neither filtered nor fined and are designed to “share with the consumer the moment when the winegrower finishes the winemaking process, tastes the wine and says, “It’s ready””, explains Véronique Braun, communications director at Gérard Bertrand wines. She also points out that the production method is a trade secret.

The three colours weigh in at 13% ABV and share the same grape variety, Grenache – Grenache noir with Syrah for the red and rosé and Grenache blanc and Viognier for the white. The initial production run is in the range of 100,000 bottles for the launch phase this winter and the range’s recommended retail price in France is €8.90 a bottle ($9.60). The wines have already been listed by French supermarket chains and orders have been placed by importers, particularly in the United States. Because the name ‘Trouble’ in English does not convey the ‘cloudy’ aspect intended in French, the label specifies its meaning. The wines come in response to a niche for unfiltered wines in some markets.