Is Canned Wine Better? These 17 Hand-Helds Are Making the Case
In 2004 Francis Ford Coppola made waves in the wine industry by introducing Sofia Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine miniatures. The minis were revolutionary because they came in cans rather than bottles. At the time, no one was making canned wine, and for many years, Sofia was the only aluminum option on the wine shop shelves. Until now. "We've seen explosive growth in the category and also in demand," Kendra Kawala explains. Kawala is the co-founder of Maker, a premium canned wine company that launched in 2019. Jordan Sager, the co-president of Winesellers Ltd., credits the craft beer movement for opening people's eyes to the world of aluminum. "In the last ten years or so, the craft beer category started to embrace cans and move away from bottles," Sager says. "Some of that was a sustainability play, but the quality was better because you don't have any issues with light content ruining the product inside. Cans are air-tight."
With the popularity of ready-to-drink beverages like White Claw and High Noon, it was only a matter of time before the wine business caught on. "People see that you can put quality wine into the can, and there are a lot of benefits to the format," Kawala adds. One major bonus? Aluminum is more environmentally friendly than glass. Consumers thirsty for transparency and looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint are naturally reaching for canned wine. Plus, the portability of cans and single-serving size make them fun and easy to drink. With the end of summer in sight, now is the time to try the trend. Whether you're going to the beach for one last hurrah or finally getting around to picnicking in the park, filling a cooler with wine cans is a great idea. Wondering which cans to crack open? Here are our favorites.
