First Impressions
G'Vine Floraison is a French gin that breaks convention twice: the base spirit is Ugni Blanc grape spirit from the Cognac region rather than grain neutral spirit, and the signature botanical is vine flowers — the delicate blossoms that appear on grape vines just before they fruit. Floraison means flowering in French, and this is a gin built around that fleeting moment.
Tasting
The nose is floral and sweet with vine flower perfume over soft juniper. On the palate, dry piney juniper meets rosewater, lime zest, cardamom, liquorice and black pepper. Ginger and unexpected anise build through the mid-palate, with the smooth grape spirit providing pleasant sweetness. The finish is long, dry, and piney with lime zest persistence.
The Bottom Line
G'Vine Floraison earns a 7 for genuine originality. The grape spirit base gives a roundness and smoothness that grain cannot replicate, and the vine flowers add a unique floral character. It does not suit a dry Martini — the softness works against the drink's tension — but in a G&T served European style in a copa glass, it is quite lovely. At around £35, a French alternative worth exploring.
