11 sommelier-approved canned wines for summer sipping

Move over hard seltzer and spritzers. Canned wines still want a place in the cooler. As Americans spend more time outdoors – a legacy of the pandemic – their thirst for canned drinks for adults increases. With more winemakers than ever vying for this market, you can now find a stunning variety of canned wines in stores.

The convenience of canned wine and its environmental benefits are undeniable. Cans can be recycled and have a much higher global recycling rate compared to glass. But which ones measure up in terms of taste?

For our first wine tasting since before the pandemic, the Dallas Morning News Wine Panel tasted 24 canned wines and found 11 that were on par or better. Before sharing our opinion on the contents of the cans, you should know what it often says: chic lifestyle marketing.

Manufacturers seem confident that flashy, Instagram-worthy cans will attract a younger audience new to wine. Artists are commissioned for graphics and tagged on the can; A brand marks a Spotify playlist to reflect the mood of the art. Causes – such as female empowerment and sustainability – are often supported. And terms such as “gluten-free”, “vegan-friendly” and “organic” appear.

We admit: we were intrigued (occasionally amazed) by some of the canned art, hashtags, and news. And although we were skeptical about budget wines in the can – most of them without vintage – we were happy to find a good selection.

The 13 cans we passed on were mostly harmless, lackluster wines, but some wines with fascinating sales arguments were just terrible. Panelists’ comments for the worst ranged from “bitter and sour” to “tastes like feet, disgusting”.

Most of the wines we tried ranged from $ 5 to $ 6 for a regular can (375 ml) (equivalent to half a bottle of wine). That is very budget-friendly. A couple of cans were just under $ 10. Slim 250-ml cans (a hefty single serving equal to 1/3 of a bottle) often sell in packs of four for $ 15-26.

Our sommelier panelists were Paul Botamer (from Fearings at The Ritz Carlton), Courtney Luscher (from Pogo’s and author of theluschlist.com) and James Tidwell (master sommelier and producer of the TexSom Conference and TexSom International Wine Awards). Below are the wines we would wear to drink outside in the summer.

Pop + Fizz white wine bubbles, Oregon

Made in Oregon, this sparkler is made from a blend of grapes sourced from different altitudes in the Willamette Valley. “It’s fruity and refreshing,” and is suitable for hot summer weather, said Botamer. Luscher liked its light and clean, ripe fruit. “This is a peach-colored delicacy [for sipping] by the pool, ”added Tidwell. Of the three sparkling wines we tasted, this one was the only winner. $ 4.49 for 375 ml ($ 15.99 for a four-pack) at Total Wine.

Broc Cellars “Love White” 2020, California

This natural wine from California is one of the few wines we have tasted from a single vintage Рand a single vineyard (Love Ranch). A blend of organic white Rh̫ne grape varieties made through spontaneous fermentation: the juice is fermented by local yeasts and bacteria.

“If you like Pinot Grigio, you will like this. It’s crunchy and not overly fruity, ”said Botamer. “It tastes a bit like a Belgian farm ale – it has a sour note,” said Tidwell. “It has similar properties to many of the beers people love these days.” Botamer found it a good choice for people who like neutral wines or are new to viticulture. Compared to the other wines we tried, it was slightly watery but showed character. $ 20 for a four-pack of 375 ml cans at Pogo’s.

McBride Sisters “She Can” Sauvignon Blanc 2019, New Zealand

This was our favorite wine of the tasting and a good display of New Zealand’s famous Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. “It’s delicious with lime and grapefruit pulp (notes). And it’s a vintage! ”Said Botamer. This was one of the few wines that elicited food pairings from our panelists: shrimp kebabs, Thai takeout, sushi – anything you squeeze with lemon or dip in soy sauce. “I could drink that all day,” said Tidwell.

McBride Sisters is the largest black-owned wine company in the United States. Proceeds (up to $ 100,000) from its She Can wine series will support the She Can Fund, which provides scholarships and grants for aspiring female leaders. This wine won a silver medal at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards 2021. $ 6.49 for 375 ml at Total Wine, Target, Whole Foods Market, Walmart and select locations of other grocery chains.

McBride Sisters “She Can” Rosé, California

This canned Californian rosé is restrained and elegant with floral and citrus notes. “It’s a very light rosé; it’s subtle in a good way, ”said Tidwell. He found it refreshing, with a pink lemonade quality and more white fruits than red fruits: honeydew melon and a hint of grapefruit. When you drink it, “you almost feel like you’re hydrating, and there’s nice acidity in the backend,” said Luscher. Botamer compared the rosé to a Pinot Gris with skin contact (which would give color to a white wine). “A beer drinker would like this wine,” he said. $ 6.49 for 375 ml at Total Wine, Target, Whole Foods Market, Walmart, and select other grocery chain locations.

Sway Rose, Texas

This is the flagship of Yes We Can Wines, which was co-founded by two well-known Texan breeders and producers: Chris Brundrett, co-founder of William Chris Vineyards, and Andrew Sides, co-founder of Lost Draw Cellars. Made only from Texas High Plains grapes, it is a medium-bodied, dry wine.

“It creates a balance between Underwood and She Can (rosé style). It’s not as obviously fruity as the Underwood, but more robust than the She Can, ”said Tidwell. He liked the ripe cherry and raspberry fruit of the rose and its roundness and fullness in the mouth. Luscher noticed peach, red berries and aromatic notes as well as a good acidity. $ 6.99 for 375 ml at the Whole Foods Market, Total Wine, and Foxtrot Market.

The original house wine rosé

Made in Washington state, this long-established token has had great success with its canned wine since it was added to its range in 2017. The panelists found this rosé full of tart and fruity candy flavors – like cherry sweet tarts, strawberry chewing gum and cherry fun dip stick. “But it’s not too cute,” said Tidwell. Botamer thought it might be an entry-level wine for young drinkers. Approximately $ 5 for 375 ml at Total Wine, Spec’s, Target, Central Market, Walmart, and select Tom Thumb and Kroger stores.

Underwood Rose Bubbles, Oregon

This wine is made by the Union Wine Company in Oregon, one of the earliest hits in the canned wine market. Tidwell found it “pretty and delicious” with aromas of watermelon, strawberry and raspberry. Botamer liked its ripe cherry notes and called it “a simple pool buffer”. $ 5.49 for 375 ml at Total Wine, Target, Central Market, and Whole Foods (Park Lane).

Underwood Pinot Noir, Oregon

Once again, the panelists were pleasantly surprised to find a wine that lived up to the description on the can. “It’s juicy Oregon Pinot. It wakes my palate with notes of raspberry, cherry and chocolate, ”said Tidwell. He added that its flavor profile matched that of many cheaper bottles of Oregon Pinot Noir – a complement in this case as it is a very inexpensive wine. Luscher noticed the “real sour cherry” taste and the acidity that was evident in the finish. “I can well imagine enjoying that with food: grilled burgers or hot dogs,” said Botamer. $ 5.49 to $ 6.49 for 375 ml at Total Wine, Target, Sigel’s, Central Market, Walmart, and select Whole Foods Market stores.

Waves red wine, 2020, Mendocino County, California

Made from organic grapes (79% Zinfandel) by Las Jaras Wines, this dry red wine has a lively, bubbly quality and notes of black plum and cherry. “Even with the frothing, it ends up more like a drier red wine than any other we’ve had,” said Luscher. “The frothing comes through and absorbs the wine – makes it fresher. [The wine] has a character that sets it apart, ”said Botamer. He would pair it with a sausage board – or just salami and cheese. Tidwell enjoyed the wine too. The refreshing Frizzante quality makes this can red well suited for hot weather. $ 9.99 for 375 ml at Pogo’s.

Nomadica Red Mix

Nomadica prides itself on producing sustainably grown wines “with minimal sulfur content” and “without chemical manipulation”. This red cuvée was the best of the four Nomadica wines we tried. Botamer and Luscher thought it would be a good starter wine for those new to red wine. “The cherry and cola flavor of the wine would go well with barbecue,” said Botamer. $ 9 for 250ml in the Grab-and-Go section of Sloane’s Corner in downtown Dallas.

Ramona Dry Sparkling Rosé, Italy

Our second favorite canned wine of the tasting, this rosé sparkler (made from organic grapes) had more restrained fruits compared to the other rosé sparklers we selected. Botamer described the flavors as clean and fresh. “It’s dry and flowery – and really well done. I actually have that in my fridge, ”said Lüscher. Tidwell was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the wine. “This is actually real rosé,” he joked. $ 16 for a four-pack of 250ml cans at Pogo’s.

Tina Danze is a freelance writer based out of Dallas.