Uncommon is a good word for how likely it would have been for many wine drinkers to even contemplate consuming wine in a can five years ago, let alone embrace the growing trend for it today. But as more tinned versions of vinous offerings appear, things are moving into a whole new world where portion control meets the desire for less alcohol, light weight packaging for taking on long walks into the mountains or other adventures when one or two drinks are all that's wanted. Affordability also has an appeal, according to anecdotal reports from wine drinkers who have explained why they are drawn to canned wines.
Why commit to 750mls of wine when you could consume less in a lightweight can?
The market for bottled wine has, depressingly, retrenched. People are drinking less. Low and no alcohol wines are being taken seriously and so, for that matter, are restricted portion wines where there is no option to consume more due to the size of the packaging.
Cue the option to start thinking more seriously about 500ml bottles. Just saying.
Wine in cans today also looks better and tastes cleaner, fresher and more like good quality wine rather than an after thought than it did in the 1990s when I tasted wine in a can on a cold night in the chilly King's Theatre in the centre of Edinburgh. It didn't seem like a good idea at the time and it wasn't. Things have moved on significantly since and while wine in a can still doesn't tickle my personal fancy in terms of how I want to consume wine, it is definitely hitting a growing target market.
Global canned wine sales are projected to reach $720 million by 2025 and it was with just that thought in mind that Hannah Sweeney and Anna Campbell decided to ride the wave with their new canned wines, which they have named The Uncommon. Campbell has worked as a publicist in the United Kingdom and Campbell has a Distinction in WSET Level Two and her Advanced Certificate in New Zealand wine.
Call me old school but I love good glassware, which offers the chance to see and smell what I'm drinking in the same way that I enjoy seeing the food I eat, so I do find the element of remove of canned wine to be, well, a less appealing option. That said, the consumption of wines in cans is set to become a quite common, which may render the name of the new Uncommon canned wines in need of a new identity.
This trio of new canned wines all impressed me with their marketing, their packaging and, mostly, for their flavours. Dry is king in this style for yours truly but it is easy to see why these producers are aiming to tick all the boxes of flavour preference.
Try these
16.5/20
Beatrix Sparkling Rosé RRP $36 four-pack
Beatrix Rosé began life as a lightly pressed Merlot with a medium pink colour and dry, red berry flavours in an unmistakably plummy style that isn't Pinot Noir due to its flavour profile. While marketed as dry, there are lifted fruity aromas and a lower alcohol of 8.9% ABV, which its winemakers at Alpha Domus in Hawke's Bay say is finding strong appeal. This is good quality, refreshing and carbonated for added flavour interest. Great packaging but higher in price than many of its counterparts.
17/20
Matahiwi Estate Blanc de Blancs RRP $24 four-pack
Chardonnay grapes from Hawke's Bay are put to good use in the bottled version of Matahiwi Estate's Blanc de Blancs and this can is a natural progression in today's market with convenience, portion control (although it's still 250mls per can) and its lightweight size. This canned wine tastes and is dry with a hint of creaminess, suggestive of Chardonnay, as well as a light fizz adding appeal.
This is my personal pick of this trio for its classic flavour profile.
The Uncommon Sparkling White RRP $7.99 & RRP $29.99 four-pack
Llightly sparkling Sauvignon Blanc with delicate crisp tropical fruit nuances and a dry taste. Great packaging makes this wine highly appealing, as does it fresh, light style - which is exactly what I would want from a canned wine.
Wearetheuncommon.co.nz
The Uncommon Sparkling Rosé RRP $7.99 & RRP $29.99 four-pack
Light pink rosé is the most popular style right now and this one is dry in taste with aromas of fresh summer berries. Like the lightly sparkling white from The Uncommon, this makes a great single serve portion, easily chillable swiftly for taking to a picnic. This canned rosé is off dry so will possibly appeal more strongly to younger and older wine drinkers; apologies if that's you and it doesn't appeal but drinking trends tend to suggest that taste preference.
Wearetheuncommon.co.nz
