More than six million people in Germany belong to the LGBTIQ community*). The world of wine is just as colourful and diverse as the queer community. To celebrate this together with REWE, PENNY and Weinfreunde, winemaker and Baden wine princess Simona Maier has created two special wines: the Blanc de Noirs One Love for REWE and the Rosé Be Wild And Free for PENNY. The wine is supported by the di.to. network (see box) of the REWE Group and CSD Deutschland e. V.. To mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May, it is available at a special price this week in all REWE and PENNY stores nationwide, from the REWE delivery and collection service and at Weinfreunde.de. Winemaker Maier reveals more about the colourful wines in an interview.

one: One Love is a Blanc de Noirs - a white wine made from red grapes. Why did you choose this type of wine?

Simona Maier: For me, it's very important to tell a story about the wine - and mine is very colourful and has a lot to do with change! I would describe my life in the same way that a white wine is made from dark grapes in a Blanc de Noirs. I used to be Simon, who tended to hide away. Today I'm Simona and I lead a happy life. I want to tell this story with the wine.

one: What can customers look forward to in terms of flavour?

Simona Maier: We usually associate a classic red wine with flavours of red fruit, such as blackberries and cherries. From a red grape pressed in white, you can coax out numerous other flavours, such as mango and apricot. The acidity can even create a green apple flavour - as you might recognise from the sour apple rings from the kiosk. These playful flavours can be found in One Love.

one: The name of the wine for PENNY is also part of the programme..

Simona Maier: Ja!, Be Wild and Free is a cheeky, fresh rosé and I'm delighted that 1 euro goes to the German Aids charity for every bottle sold.

one: What significance does the collaboration with REWE and PENNY have for you?

Simona Maier: The idea was to make a wine from the LGBTIQ community for the LGBTIQ community.and if there's anyone who is publicly committed to the LGBTIQ community, it's the REWE Group - so it was exactly the right place for me to get the project off the ground. I'm already receiving so many selfies from the LGBTIQ community with the wine. It's become a real hype and that makes me very proud!

one: To coincide with IDAHOBIT and Pride month in June, REWE, PENNY and Toom are setting an example for diversity and tolerance by flying rainbow flags at more than 3,000 stores across Germany (more on this in one on 18 May). How important are such campaigns for the LGBTIQ community?

Simona Maier: For me, visibility and authenticity play a major role. It is therefore important that campaigns by large companies are not just pinkwashing**), but that they also show their colours beyond certain dates and ensure visibility. If my wine goes down well and is available all year round, that would be a great sign of visibility. Measures like those taken by the REWE Group are very important for the LGBTIQ community.