Aluminum cans have been at the heart of the beer and soda industries for decades. But what about wine? The world’s other favorite alcoholic drink has stayed strictly in glass bottles (and the occasional box) for decades. However, at least one winemaker is looking at making vino more accessible and easier to carry. From Business Insider:
What began as a promotional product for Portland’s Feast 2013 food and wine festival, Union Wine Company’s wine in 12oz cans will actually be making its way to shelves. Its initial limited edition release drew rave reviews, for both its pretenseless “pinkies down” philosophy and the quality of the wine within. The idea of wine in a can was inspired by Union’s company mission to make wine more accessible, and this very well may do the trick.
We found the product to be novel and the experience enjoyable, but we were surprised by how great the wine was—causing us to rethink previous notions about bottling. The cans carry both Underwood Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, with grapes from across Oregon. Reasonably priced and with the craftsman spirit of the region, the cans are just an added bonus. And if drinking wine from a can isn’t your thing, pour it into a glass and let it breathe because the product is deeper than the packaging.
Ryan Harms, the owner of Union Wine Co., is a firm believer in the saying “it takes a lot of good beer to make good wine.” He likes the way a beer can feels in your hand and its portability, but he didn’t seriously think about canning wine until that rebranding meeting in June. He and his team talked about wanting their products to be accessible, both in the approachability of the varietals’ flavors and the ease with which one could grab a drink. They wanted to see their wines included on a backcountry skiing trip or packed for an exploration of Mount Hood. All of a sudden, the can seemed like a viable wine-delivery option.
Not all wines are ideal for being inside aluminum. And the wine industry itself features strict guidelines about bottling and shipping. Of course, for pure kitsch value, we’re hoping that someday you’ll be able to buy matching generic yellow cans labeled BEER and WINE.