Yahoo Movies The best canned wines to drink this summer
Canned alcoholic drinks have become hugely popular over the past couple of years – not a week goes by without news of another ready-to-drink cocktail, pre-mixed spirit or wine in a tin.
And no wonder, since cans are easy to carry to festivals, picnics, hikes and beach trips, or take on a long train journey. They offer convenient portion sizes, are a doddle to open and, of course, are endlessly recyclable. A great option, in short, especially in the summer when we are partying outside and travelling more.
But are wines in cans any good? Short answer: yes, but you really need to know which ones are the best. I tasted a selection and found almost all of them clean and fresh, perfectly acceptable reds, whites and rosés, but many were on the bland side. A small number stood out as having proper character – wines which otherwise I would happily buy by the bottle for their distinctive qualities.
There is some debate about how to drink canned wines. Do you sip directly from the can or pour into glasses or other vessels? I prefer to pour them out of the can into something else as I find the feeling of metal against lips a bit strange when it comes to wine. But you might well feel that when you’re on the beach, or hiking with a rucksack, you can live with just a can.
Try these...
IGO organic white wine, Navarra, Spain
(12.5%, Waitrose, £3.99/250ml can)
There’s a very decent white in this smart-looking can (the name is pronounced ‘I Go’). Made from grenache blanc in the northern Navarra region, it’s got plenty of peach and citrus, enough ripeness to stand up to food (cold chicken salads and cheesy quiches come to mind) and ends fresh and balanced. Bring on a picnic.
The Uncommon bubbly rosé ‘Eleanor’ 2020
England (11.5%, Ocado, £5, down to £4.50 until 5 July, 250ml can)
Hugely refreshing sparkling pink from English pinot noir grapes, just off-dry and juicy with strawberry and peach and a light creaminess. The bubbles are soft – this is spritzy rather than full-on fizzy, and the alcohol is fairly low too. Chill it well and enjoy as an al fresco treat when the sun’s shining.
The Copper Crew Discover sauvignon blanc 2020
Western Cape, South Africa (13%, coppercrew.co.uk, £24.99/6x250ml cans)
The Copper Crew’s cans, mainly from South Africa, are well worth checking out. I like this addition to their ‘Discover’ range, a cool-climate sauv blanc from the Elgin region with zesty tangerines and kiwi fruit and hints of herbs and fresh grass, but balanced. One for fish and lemony dressed salads.
Mirabeau Pret-a-Porter rosé
Mediterranée France (13%, Waitrose, £3.49/250ml can)
A blend of grapes from coastal southern France make this appealing dry rosé, which is pale and elegant with red cherry and lemon notes. A very good match with cold seafood, especially prawns – or just take it to the beach. Good value too.
Kiss of Wine Feisty nebbiolo 2018
Piemonte, Italy (12.5%, Kiss of Wine, £5.90/250ml can)
This is the best canned red wine I’ve tried to date, a delicious Piedmont nebbiolo that has soft but juicy flavours of red berries, especially strawberry and redcurrant, and a subtly smoky, spicy finish. It works lightly chilled or not, and makes a fine partner for charcuterie, sausage rolls or soft cheeses like brie.
