The term “glou glou” is a prime example of an onomatopoeia, one of those words that imitates the sound it’s meant to describe. It’s roughly the French equivalent of “glug glug,” aka the sound of wine rapidly pouring out of a bottle—or down a person’s throat.
It’s been in use for centuries. One of its first appearances in literature was in the French playwright Molière’s 1666 work “The Doctor Despite Himself.” But it didn’t make its way across the Atlantic and infiltrate the international wine scene until just over a decade ago, when French-speaking importers to the United States began tossing it around to describe the fresh, low-intervention wines they were (and increasingly are) bringing in from overseas.
“Glou glou” is meant to indicate wines one can throw back quickly, but that can technically be done with any wine. So, what does it actually mean? Here’s everything you need to know about this increasingly omnipresent style.
What Is Glou Glou?
“Glou glou wines as a category would just be very easy-drinking wines,” says Billy Smith, chief wine office for digital natural wine club The Waves.
These “crushable” wines—what some might call “porch pounders”—have become popular with a younger generation of wine drinkers. These consumers want wine that’s refreshing, but not overly serious. They’re not the kind of wines that might overpower a meal with complicated aromas or tasting notes, and they’re meant to be enjoyable without food.
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Any wine—whether it’s white, orange, rose or red—can be considered glou glou. The term, however, is most often applied to chillable reds and other wines with moderate levels of acidity and freshness.
In hotter climates, glou glou wines tend to boast slightly higher alcohol than their cold climate brethren, along with juicier aromas and fruitier flavors. In cooler regions, as one would expect, these easy-drinking wines tend to preserve more acid.
While France is the epicenter of glou glou—which makes sense given it’s a French term—this style can be found allover the world these days, from Italy and Austria to California, Australia and Japan. Most often, the term glou glou is associated with natural wines—however, it’s more about how easy it is to drink than the way it is made.
From Beaujolais to the World
That being said, many glou glou wines are carbonically macerated. The winemaking technique, which is famously tied to the Beaujolais region of France—one of the capitals of glou glou—is most often used to make light- to medium-bodied red wines with soft tannins and fruity flavor profiles. Whole, intact bunches of grapes are sealed in a tank with carbon dioxide during the fermentation process, which happens inside each individual berry. “This minimizes juice interaction with skins and stems, mitigating how much tannins are being released in the wine,” says Smith. “It makes them pretty fruit-forward and easy drinking.”
This method has long been popular in Beaujolais and the Loire Valley. More recently, it’s become a favored technique of emerging winemakers in the South of France. “The style has become so popular in the Southern Rhône,” says Smith, who adds that it’s “been exploding in popularity in the last decade or so.”
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These up-and-coming wines are a huge contrast from the darker, lusher, higher-alcohol wines that have been traditionally produced up and down the iconic valley. Many Rhone-produced glou glou wines still highlight traditional varietals including Grenache, Syrah and Mouvèdre; however, they’ll often include more obscure grapes like Aramon and Counoise.
Just as these palate-pleasing wines have crept across France, they’ve made their way to wine regions across the globe. This trend is likely to continue as the next generation of global winemakers continue to dip their toes into the low-intervention wine scene.
“We’re living in a great time in natural wine, where you’re getting children taking over for their parents or people who have been in the industry for ten years striking out and making their own styles,” says Smith. “Glou Glou wines are popping up all over the place.”
Bottles to Try
Glou Glou Wines from France
Two Birds One Stone 2022 Carignan (Vin de France)
Elegant floral and vanilla aromas open this red wine. On the palate, juicy strawberry, cranberry and pomegranate flavors meet baking spice and dried herbs. Nicely structured, with supple tannins and uplifting acidity. Best Buy. 93 Points —Jacy Topps
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Notorious 2022 Infamous Gold Cabernet Blanc Cabernet Blanc (Vin de France)
Beautiful aromas of white flowers, honeydew melon and pears inform the nose of this white wine. Flavors of baked pears, peaches and vanilla lead to a lush mouthfeel that plays nice with the acidity. Best Buy. 92 Points —J.T.
$15 Total Wine & More
Nic Rager 2022 Chardonnay (Vin de France)
This well-balanced Chardonnay opens with aromas of white flowers and vanilla, then followed by concentrated layers of crisp green apple, pastry and lemon curd on the palate. The acidity plays along well with the rich, elegant mouthfeel and medium body. It offers a creamy and lengthy finish. Best Buy. 92 Points —J.T.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Moillard 2020 La Roche Rose (Beaujolais-Villages)
This muscular Beaujolais-Villages has finesse. Ruby in color, this wine has a perfumed nose of black raspberry, rosehip, cranberry and black plum. Well integrated, red-and-black fruit concentration on the midpalate continue through to the long finish. Best Buy. 92 Points — Reggie Solomon
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Boutinot 2021 Uva Non Grata Gamay (Vin de France)
Aromas of rose petals, black currant and vanilla waft from the glass of this elegant red. Medium-bodied, this wine hits the palate with baked raspberries, moderate acidity and a herbaceous character. Best Buy. 91 Points —J.T.
$ Varies Wine-SearcherGlou Glou Wines from the U.S.
Tinto Amorio 2021 Jajaja Glou Glou Zinfandel (California)
This fresh, semicarbonically fermented Zinfandel from Paso Robles pops on the nose with superfresh aromas of raspberry, hibiscus and watermelon bubblegum. The palate is zesty and tantalizing, loaded with strawberry sorbet, coconut and banana flavors. It’s gluggable but also has some heft. 92 Points — Matt Kettmann
$52 ReserveBar
Troon 2020 Cowhorn Vineyard Glou-Glou Grenache (Applegate Valley)
Using carbonic maceration and whole-cluster fermentation, this is a nouveau style of wine. The bright fruit scents and flavors are front-loaded, and the wine has a lovely perfumed entry. In the mouth it turns tart and grapy, almost like sucking on a sour grape candy. Drink it well-chilled with picnic fare. 88 Points — Paul Gregutt
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Birichino 2022 Vin Gris Rosé (California)
A soft, pale shade of pink in the glass, this mostly Central Coast-grown rosé blend of 72% Grenache, 11% Carignane, 7% Cinsault, 7% Mourvèdre and 3% Rolle offers wet stone, smashed plum and subtle herb aromas on the nose. The palate’s texture is stony and chalky, giving an edge to the plush rosewater and melon flavors. Best Buy. 93 Points — M.K.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Long Shadows 2022 Poet’s Leap Riesling (Columbia Valley (WA))
How does this wine exist for $20? Such a value. Its Bosc pear and donut peach aromas are laced with notes of tangerine and gardenias. The Poet’s silky texture and velvety mouthfeel escort flavors like lemon soda and mandarin orange slices. Quite a match for General Tso’s chicken. Best Buy. 92 Points — Michael Alberty
$20 Wine.com
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes)
Tasted blind, it’d be easy to mistake this Riesling for Muscat. Heady and perfumed, this wine indeed has musky, floral aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine, candied orange and lime granita. The off-dry palate is more tempered with a slight chalky grip but a mouthfilling texture and just enough acidity to support the sugar. Overall, it’s a balanced and highly crowd-pleasing style for sipping cold with a summery dessert like a fruit tart. Best Buy. 90 Points — Christina Pickard
$ Varies Wine-SearcherGlou Glou Wines from Italy
Marenco 2022 Scrapona Moscato (Moscato d’Asti)
Wafting aromas of wild mint, magnolia and nectarine lift from the glass of this classy Moscato d’Asti. Lush white peach and candied citrus flavors are on the palate, with a balanced finish. Best Buy. 93 Points — Jeff Porter
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Cantina Fratelli Pardi 2021 Grechetto Grechetto (Montefalco)
Pale gold in color, from a touch of skin contact, this wine opens with aromas of chamomile, white tea, roasted pear and dried apricot. The lush palate shows orange marmalade and wild herbs, finishing with a slight tannic edge, making this a great option for roast pork or grilled swordfish. Best Buy. 90 Points — J.P.
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Antonelli 2022 Grechetto (Montefalco Grechetto)
Green pear and lemon aromas open the nose of this stellar example of Grechetto. Mineral, floral and savory aromas develop as the wine opens. The palate is bright with crunchy acidity and has a mineral edge, making it very interesting. This wine punches well above its weight. Best Buy. 92 Points — J.P.
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Banfi 2021 Centine Pinot Grigio Pinot Grigio (Toscana)
The nose is delicate, with notes of toasted almonds, quince paste and citrus blossoms. That delicacy continues on the slick palate, where the citrus and quince are joined by melon to keep lounging in the sun, but the nuttiness returns on the finish to lend a balancing astringency. Best Buy. 90 Points — Danielle Callegari
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Peter Zemmer 2022 Pinot Grigio Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige)
Roasted apples, lemon peel and yeasty aromas lift from the glass of this classic mountain Pinot Grigio. Flavors of green pears and flint define the creamy palate that pops with tangy acidity on the finish. Best Buy. 92 Points — J.P.
$20 Wine.comGlou Glou Wines from Australia
Thistledown 2021 Gorgeous Grenache (South Australia)
Juicy fruit bursts from the glass of this crowd-pleaser. Floral and spice notes follow through to the satiny, light to medium weight palate. There’s a touch of alcohol heat, but the succulent fruit and sandy tannins are stars of the show. An excellent intro to modern South Aussie Grenache. Best Buy. 90 Points — C.P.
$17 Wine.comLast Updated: October 18, 2023
