A trip to the cooler at a beach party can be less than thrilling if you aren’t a fan of beer or hard seltzer. But, wine lovers on summer vacation need not fret. The canned wine game is stronger than ever, both in variety and quality.
In addition to being ideal for places where glass is prohibited (such as pools, parks, lakes and beaches) or is inconvenient (on a long hike), cans are lighter, and are more easily recycled. Not surprisingly, more sustainable wine producers, including those that fall under the umbrella of natural winemaking, are expanding their production to cans.
Convenience and sustainability are great, but if the contents in the can are not worth drinking, you might as well just crack open a LaCroix. The producers featured here have found the balance between responsibly-made and delicious-tasting wines. They all practice sustainable or organic farming, don’t use chemicals or additives, and use little to no additional sulfites. We have enjoyed these wines straight from the can, or poured into a glass.
Cans range from 250 milliliters (a very generous glass size) to 375 milliliters (half a standard bottle). Either size is better for freshness and portion control when you don’t need or want to open a full bottle.
Here are the canned wines that we plan to keep stocked in our cooler all summer long:
Artomana Xarmant txacoli – This may be the most refreshing wine available in a can. It is made mostly from hondarrabi zuri, a grape indigenous to the Basque region of Spain. Slightly effervescent, this wine has a refreshing note of salinity that evokes the sea breezes that flow through the vineyards. It’s an ideal pairing with seafood, especially oysters.
Sans Wine Co. Finley Road Vineyard sauvignon blanc – Pungent and grapefruity, sauvignon blanc is among our not-so-guilty pleasures, and this natural wine producer delivers with this one. Made from organically farmed fruit in Lake County, California, this is a great pairing with salads.
Brick + Mortar rosé – Made of whole, cluster-pressed syrah, and sustainably farmed on the Sonoma Coast, this rosé is bone-dry, with bright notes of raspberry. It’s a perfect picnic pink that is great straight from the can.
Las Jaras Waves red – Chillable red wine is a trend we hope lasts forever. This zinfandel-dominant blend is very light-bodied and juicy — a great match for spicy snacks or pizza. Las Jaras wins the unofficial award for best can packaging, with its glittery rainbow design.
Broc Cellars Love red — Broc Cellars is one of our favorite modern California winemakers, and we were delighted when they started making the Love line of canned wines. The red is a blend of mostly carignan, syrah and validguié from the northern coast of California. Slightly fuller bodied than the Waves red, it still is very chillable. Its rustic berry flavors go great with backyard burgers or barbecue.
The Slaters are beverage industry veterans and the proprietors of the Expat and the Lark Winespace in Athens.
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