Should You Skip Canned Wine and Just Buy the Bottle?
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022
Canned wine is the latest wine trend to make the rounds, but is it all it's cracked up to be? A sommelier explains when to sip and when to skip.
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Whether you’re a wine drinker or not, you’ve undoubtedly seen the brightly colored cans of wine lining your local supermarket shelves. These ultraportable cans are enjoying their moment as the wine trend du jour, but is this popular new packaging the way forward in the wine world? Pour yourself a glass of vino and let’s find out!
The Pros of Canned Wine
Canned wine is great if you’re planning to bring a little booze on a picnic, poolside party, or to the beach. For white wine drinkers, the humble can chills much faster than the traditional glass bottle, which is a definite plus. They’re unpretentious, and with more producers jumping on the trend, the quality is improving every year. You’ll find some amazingly delicious canned wines out there. Canned wine tends to be inexpensive, and if you’re trying to do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint, a can does offer some recycling benefits over a glass bottle.
OK, So How About the Cons?
As Jason Centanni, the head winemaker at Llano Estacado Winery in Lubbock, Texas, says, “The packaging just doesn’t suit the product.” He’s right—when it comes to aging wine, a can won’t cut it. The nature of the can doesn’t allow for any long-term aging. Overall, canned wine has a short shelf life averaging about 18 months. If you like buying wine to stash away for a later date, you’ll want to give this trend a pass. While the majority of canned wines are kind to your wallet, you can find great deals on bottled wine as well (check out these great white wines for under $20!). For all of you champagne connoisseurs out there, sparkling wine out of a can will never be the same quality as your favorite bottle of bubbly. (More about champagne here.)
So should you pick up a few cans of vino on your next shopping trip? If you’re looking for something simple and portable to drink soon, there’s nothing wrong with buying a can of wine. But if you want to keep your wine for long periods of time or prefer savoring the complexity which unfolds in the glass, stick to the old-school wine bottle.
Next up—we named the best boxed red wine.
44 Seriously Satisfying Ways to Finish off a Bottle of Wine
Shrimp PuttanescaI throw together these bold ingredients for a feisty seafood pasta. —Lynda Balslev, Sausalito, California
(Here's what "cooking wine" really means.)
Parmesan Chicken with Artichoke HeartsI've liked the chicken and artichoke combo for a long time. Here's my own lemony twist. With all the praise it gets, this dinner is so much fun to serve. —Carly Giles, Hoquiam, Washington
Here are some expert tips on how to cook with wine.
Burgundy PearsThese warm spiced pears elevate slow cooking to a new level of elegance, yet they're incredibly easy to make. Your friends won't believe this fancy-looking dessert came from a slow cooker. —Elizabeth Hanes, Peralta, New Mexico
Sour Cherry SorbetMy mother-in-law has a sour cherry tree in her yard that yields many quarts of cherries each June, and this is a great way to use some up. This frosty sweet-sour sorbet is a refreshing treat on a hot summer day. —Carol Gaus, Itasca, Illinois
Chicken Sausage & Gnocchi SkilletI had a bunch of fresh veggies and combined them with sausage, gnocchi and goat cheese when I needed a quick dinner. Mix and match your own ingredients for unique results. —Dahlia Abrams, Detroit, Michigan
Skillet Chicken with OlivesWhile I was visiting my cousin Lilliana in Italy, she made this heavenly chicken for lunch. Now it's a family favorite stateside, too. —Rosemarie Pisano, Revere, Massachusetts
Mixed Greens with Lemon Champagne VinaigretteSimple and delicious, this champagne vinaigrette recipe pairs perfectly with mixed greens or a salad of your choice. —Ray Uyeda, Mountain View, California
Sweet & Spicy Pickled Red Seedless GrapesMost people don't think about grapes when creating a canned pickle recipe. The pickling liquid for these grapes includes red wine, vinegar and common pickling spices like coriander, mustard seeds and hot pepper; it also contains warm spices like cinnamon and star anise along with brown sugar. These flavor-packed grapes are unique and delicious on a fab antipasto, pickle or cheese tray. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina
Duck Breasts with Apricot ChutneyWhen serving this entree as part of a buffet, try using chafing dish to keep it warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chicken Thighs with Shallots & SpinachWhat could be better than an entree that comes with its own creamy vegetable side? This healthy supper goes together in no time flat and makes an eye-catching presentation. —Genna Johannes, Wrightstown, Wisconsin
Contest-Winning Chicken CacciatoreMy husband and I own and operate a busy farm. There are days when there's just no time left for cooking! It's really nice to be able to come into the house at night and smell this wonderful slow cooker chicken cacciatore. —Aggie Arnold-Norman, Liberty, Pennsylvania
Chili Sauce ChickenChili sauce, garlic and basil add flavor to these moist chicken thighs. We enjoy the tender grilled chicken not just in summertime, but throughout the year. —Marilyn Waltz, Idyllwild, California
Chicken with Red Wine Cream SauceMy creamy chicken tastes like a five-star restaurant dish but takes only minutes and few ingredients to make. Use fresh rosemary. Trust me. —Sarah Campbell, Terre Haute, IN
Slow Cooker Spiced Poached PearsSome of the many reasons I love this dessert recipe are: it's on the healthy side; it's easy to make; the recipe can be mostly prepared in advance of company arriving; and the presentation is lovely.—Jill Mant, Denver, Colorado
Honeydew GranitaMake this refreshing summer treat when melons are ripe and flavorful. I like to garnish each serving with a sprig of mint or a small slice of honeydew. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Warm Crab & Spinach DipIn Maryland, we stayed at a hotel that sent guests home with a crab dip recipe and a spice pouch. Now I’ve made my own dip that rekindles memories of that trip. —Kristina Wenner, Jamison, Pennsylvania
Red Wine Cranberry SauceWe were feeling festive when we started our holiday cooking, but a bottle of wine was a bit more than we wanted to drink. I added half a cup to the cranberry sauce, in place of juice, and a new recipe was born! —Helen Nelander, Boulder Creek, California
Red, White & Blue Potato SaladTossing the cooked potatoes with stock and wine right after you drain them infuses them with flavor. The liquid absorbs like magic. —George Levinthal, Goleta, California
Up Next: 13 Easy Food and Wine Pairings Everyone Should Know
Originally Published: December 06, 2019
