Canned and boxed wines are all the rage this summer. They’re portable – you can pop them in your backpack for a post hike, mountaintop toast or enjoy them at the park or poolside, where glass cups and bottles are not permitted. Even better? Most canned and boxed wines are under 14%, making them great session sippers for a long day in the sun. However, all these perks don’t mean a thing unless what’s inside tastes good. I tasted 15 boxed and canned wines produced in Sonoma, Napa & Mendocino counties – click through the gallery above for my five picks for the best to sip this summer.
5 Local Canned & Boxed Wines to Drink this Summer
We tasted a bunch of boxed and canned wines and picked out the best - for your portable pleasure.
Sofia Blanc de Blancs mini (11.5% ABV)
Now an icon, Sofia's bright pink canned sparkling wine helped pave the way for trendy, quality canned wines. Launched in 2004, it's still tasty, with a blend of pinot blanc, riesling and muscat. Not too sweet, it's ripe with honeydew, Asian pear, and all the goodness you want out of a cute little sparkler - straw included. Each can is one glass of wine.
Sans Wine Co. 2016 Rosé of Carignan (12.5% ABV)
Sans Wine Co. creates natural wines, meaning no additives or chemicals. They're serious about their canned wine - creating single vineyard designate vino. Their Rosé of Carignan is the best I've tasted in a can - Provençal style from Poor Ranch Vineyards in Mendocino. A lovely flavor of strawberry, summer melon, and raspberries. Each can is two glasses of wine.
Pam's UN-Oaked Chardonnay (12.4% ABV)
Known for their innovative marketing and wine brands, it's no surprise that the Rubin Family of Wines has created a series of canned wines as tributes to their family members. This chardonnay is for the matriarch of the family, Pam Rubin. It's off-dry, reminding me of a riesling, with tastes of Golden Delicious apples, nectarines and candied almond. Perfect for sriracha laden foods! Each can is one glass of wine.
Ron's Red (12.5% ABV)
We're sticking with the Rubin Family for their tribute to the head honcho - Ron Rubin, who is the mastermind behind hippie-centric brands like Black Light. This blend of zinfandel, syrah and merlot tasted best when chilled. It reminded me of a refreshing, chilled red sancerre. It tastes like cranberry juice meets plum wine. Each can is one glass of wine.
Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon (13% ABV)
Created by Trinchero Family Estates, Bandit has been a standard boxed wine on grocery store shelves around the country for years. This was my favorite out of the boxed wine bunch - a nice, earthy cabernet sauvignon with a touch of oak and no strong tannins. Nice flavors of plum and Bing cherry. Eco-friendly Tetra Pak is a plus! Comes in two sizes (1L & 500ml).