I used to be a canned wine skeptic. Then I brought a six-pack to an outdoor concert last summer and completely changed my mind.
Sales apparently tripled last year, which exceeded even the most optimistic predictions. And it makes sense once you think about the practical advantages. No worrying about broken glass at festivals. No corkscrew required at the beach. Single-serve portions mean nobody’s stuck finishing a bottle that’s been sitting open in the sun for three hours.
What shifted my perception was trying some of the premium options that major producers have launched. These aren’t the budget wines that dominated canned offerings initially. Some genuinely good juice is going into aluminum now, and the quality holds up remarkably well.
Here’s something I didn’t know until recently: aluminum cans actually protect wine from light damage better than clear glass bottles. UV exposure is one of the ways wine deteriorates, and those clear bottles you see everywhere do nothing to prevent it. The can blocks all light. Add in the environmental benefit of highly recyclable aluminum, and the case for cans gets stronger.
For picnics, concerts, kayaking, beach days, or anywhere glass is impractical, I’ve become a convert. Will I drink Grand Cru Burgundy from a can? No. But for casual outdoor occasions? Pass me a cold one.
