What we thought of these 15 new canned wines (and cocktails) for summer

I decided to get serious about the canned wine situation this year as the market for these unbreakable portables has grown exponentially since last summer. I enlisted the expertise of Staplehouse wine and beverage director Melissa Davis and 3 Parks Wine Shop owner Sarah Pierre in holding a porch tasting of 27 new or previously unavailable cans on the market in Georgia. The evening also included a handful of canned cocktails.

After 5 hours of tasting and debating, we whittled the list down to 15 cans we think you should be sipping this summer.

For a look back at 2016's canned wine winners, click here.

Nomadica Chenin Blanc (can artist: Kareena Zerefos)

12% ABV, $17 three pack

This lovely and light chenin blanc from Santa Barbara winemaker Joshua Klapper was our winner. Slightly dry, crisp and easy to sip, it lies beautifully between a pinot gris and a sauvignon blanc. Nomadica is in talks with several Georgia distributors and hopes to be in stores this summer. If you can't wait, email orders@nomadica.wine for purchasing details. Founder Emma Toshack says a new series of white, red and rosé will be debuting very soon.

Fun fact: Nomadica is a female-owned and operated company working with small winemakers around the world to source their juices. Each can is a limited edition wine with unique label art by independent illustrators, painters, photographers and street artists who are commissioned to create a series. Nomadica aims to bring local artists and small winemakers together to produce wines which promote the creativity of both.

Credit: Beth McKibben

Credit: Beth McKibben

Fiction Red by Field Recordings

14.9% ABV, $40/four pack

From the makers of the Alloy rosé we loved so much last year, Fiction red is a beautiful and surprising blend of Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Touriga Nacional grapes. Moderately dry with light acid and medium body, this canned wine didn't stand a chance of being left unfinished at the end of the night. A great food-pairing wine or for simply sipping on the porch.

Explore The Drop Rosé

11% ABV, $24.99/four pack

The Drop Cali Red

13% ABV, $24.99/four pack

Babe Rosé with Bubbles

12% ABV, $18.99/four pack

Credit: Beth McKibben

Alloy Chardonnay from Field Recordings

$30/four pack

Trader Joe's Simpler Wines--Sparkling White and Rosé

10% ABV, $3.99/four pack

Lila Rosé and Sparkling White

11-12% ABV, $12/four pack

With the exception of Nomadica and Trader Joe’s, all of the above can be found at 3 Parks Wine Shop in Glenwood Park as well as select wine and liquor stores around the metro area. Lila wines can also be purchased at Kroger.

3 Parks Wine Shop, 880 Glenwood Ave. Ste. C, Atlanta. 678-349-7070, 3parkswine.com.

Canned Cocktails