By Bob Souza
Souza Family Vineyards
Wine in a can?
Bob - the ‘Wine Guy’
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Believe it or not, wine in a can is a topic getting a lot of discussion lately.
Purists say that the aluminum canister can’t possibly be good for wine, that middle flavors will seep into the wine and that the form factor ruins the experience. Taking a glance at some of the more recent reviews it seems as though that may be the case, but there is an important distinction to be made here: The term “wine in a can” is really a misnomer, because most of what is on the market is not really wine at all. It’s something that loosely resembles wine.
My entire staff of researchers went on a search for good quality wine in a can and unfortunately didn’t find many, however, that really had nothing to do with the cans. It’s all about the stuff companies are putting inside.
Today’s modern and completely safe liners in aluminum cans prevent metal flavors from leaking in. Most of what people classify as a metal taste in things like soda pop these days come from artificial sweeteners, not the can itself. However, when companies are filling cans with things like coffee flavored wine or carbonating their red wine, it’s no doubt people are skeptical of this vessel.
There are, of course, distinct advantages of cans:
• The canning process is significantly cheaper than bottling.
• Aluminum cans are 100% recyclable, collected virtually everywhere and have a much higher recycle value than glass.
• They are also quite light weight, much less than the equivalent wine in bottles, which can have a huge impact on shipping costs and emissions.
• Aluminum cans use about 1/10 the amount of material to contain the same amount of product.
• Cans are extremely easy to transport and make a great choice for activities like camping, boating and hunting.
In the wines sampled, the only downside seemed to be in the experience, if you’re a big swirl-and-sniffer. Of course, you can always pour the wine into a glass, but that defeats part of the purpose of it being in a can in the first place. On the flip side, the folks we talked to who had tried some of these wines said there was something about the convenience and every day appeal of drinking wine from a can that they enjoyed immensely.
Go figure, but they say once the wine hits your mouth it’s all the same anyway.
Wine in a bottle has been around for a long time and is probably going to be around for a lot longer. If you see wine offered in the can and it’s of a varietal that you like, what the heck, give it a try.
So my Uncle Vinnie & Aunt Myrt are sitting quietly in their living room, each in their matching recliners. After a while, Aunt Myrt asks, “How come you never talk to me anymore?” My Uncle Vinnie says, “I told you everything I know a long time ago.”
Bada Bing!
Remember, at the winery we are still doing our “Wine Down Fridays”, which includes dinner and live music, and our Celebrity Bartenders for Charity on Sundays. Be sure to join us for our Mother’s Day Brunch, on Sunday May 10. Call for reservations 822-9233. Like us on Facebook for updates or check out our website at SouzaFamilyVineyard.com.
In closing just a short note to my readers: Believe it or not this is column number 100. I know what you’re thinking, “How could shy and retiring Bob, The Wine Guy (BTWG) have so much to say?”
Thank you to all who have suffered through 100 columns. Yes, there will be more to come.
As always, I love you more than a peanut butter sandwich.
Abbondanza Fortuna
