The virtues of canned wine recently came under inspection of world renowned and celebrated wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson in a Financial Times feature. Robinson’s review is a big moment for this new category. It gives real credence to this form of alternative packaging which benefits are well expounded.
Robinson leads the review by noting "I went to a tasting of 120 wines from some of South Africa’s most admired producers the other day. I didn’t taste them all but managed a good portion of them and the wine that stood out for me comes in a 25-cl can".
Robinson called out two South African wine labels available in the UK. Copper Crew and The Liberator. Both were packaged in SA by local canning start up, Tiny Keg Can Co who have canned wine for 60 local and international customers with well over 200 wines in can.
“South Africa is generally acknowledged here (UK) as leading the way in canned wine”, notes Richard Kelley, Master of Wine and brand owner of The Liberator brand which Robinson recognises to be of particular high quality wine. His Worcester Sauce Red Muscadel, named after the grape’s region of origin and branded in the style of the famous Worcestershire Sauce, is enthusiastically described as “fresh and grapey but far from vapid, lingering on the palate with quite a bit of presence and grip”.
Robinson’s assessment concludes that great wine has a place in the can and is more sustainable than glass. The more traditional format of packaging is increasingly more expensive and impracticable. The variety of single serve formats in can are more accessible to new customers. There is huge scope for growth with Grand View Research predicting that the global canned-wine market will be worth $571.8 million by 2028, having grown more than 13% a year.
Tiny Keg’s offering of flexibility, mobility and low MOQs has reduced the barriers to entry. Innovative brand owners are able to seed the market without excessive capital exposure. This has allowed for democratization of beverage offerings which has seen an explosion of new exciting proudly South African wine in cans being recognized and celebrated in global markets.
Read a version of her article that appeared in the Financial Times HERE.