Mini "goon bags" offer a serious wine alternative

"It's a mini goon bag," said Jamie, one of the young servers, when I took a Greenskin wine pouch into one of my local cafés for a tasting this week.

He was right - and wrong.

The quality of wine going into the Greenskin pouches has never been better. Two new releases; a 2024 Chardonnay and 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from Western Australia are a case in point.

The sauvignon blanc is made by Japo Dalli Cani at leading Margaret River winery McHenry Hohnen, while the chardonnay is crafted by Gavin Berry at West Cape Howe in the Great Southern.

Two impressive vibrant and juicy whites for enjoying in their youth: and prices start from $106.50 for a six-pack.

Both would be ideal for enjoying chilled at a picnic, on the beach, out on the water, at a party or a sports event. The quality, I think you''ll find, is just as good as you'd find in $30 bottles.

I predict that recyclable pouches will be all the rage this year, along with half bottles and wine in cans. There is a new wine brand called Half Sister making wines only in 375mL bottles.

Convenience is everything and Greenskin offers premium wine in a 100% recylable format.

Here is their spiel: "Tired of lugging heavy, breakable glass bottles on your adventures? Are you frustrated with how long they take to chill or the hassle of disposing of them afterwards?

"We’ve reinvented the way you enjoy premium wine with our nifty 750ml, fully recyclable pouches.

"As experienced winemakers and wine packaging specialists, we hand-select premium Australian wines from renowned wineries and package them in a lightweight, unbreakable pouch.

"Forget those cringe-worthy “goon-bag” memories; this is all about enjoying premium quality wine in a convenient, sustainable package."

Some facts: pouches take 80% less energy to produce than glass; use fewer emissions in transport and are part of a free recycling program.

Co-founder Mike Davies reports: "Sales are significantly up over the past year, which is encouraging for the concept."

If you are keen to try medley packages offer whites, reds, rosés or a mix, you can place orders online. Apply the promo code MEDLEY10 to receive 10% off.

See https://greenskinwine.com/

Enjoy a favourite wine in a can

 
We don't drink wine the way we used to. 

Wine lovers will have noticed that they can now purchase wines in all manner of alternative packaging; including pouches and flat-plastic bottles. 

Wine in cans is also becoming increasingly popular but don't expect to find your Penfolds Grange or Henschke Hill of Grace in a can any time soon. 

Cans are, however, very handy for any "drink now" wines and perfect for picnics, or a day at the beach. 

One of Australia's highest profile wines, Turkey Flat's Grenache Rosé, has just been released in 250ml cans - and the Barossa producer is excited by the innovation. 

The winery describes its slimline cans as offering "sustainable sophistication". 

"This exciting release not only showcases the timeless charm of Turkey Flat's Rosé but also underlines the winery's commitment to sustainability, convenience, and responsible drinking," owner Christie Schulz says. 

The key features of the new-release cans are: 

#. Eco-friendly packaging: contributing to a reduced environmental footprint. The lightweight and recyclable cans align with the winery's commitment to responsible practices and eco-conscious choices.

#  Convenience meets sustainability: Portable and easy to handle, the cans cater to on-the-go moments. 

#. Responsible drinking advocacy: The portable and portioned nature of the cans facilitates moderation, ensuring that consumers can savour the moment responsibly.

#. Preserving the rosé experience: The can format safeguards the flavours of Turkey Flat Rosé, ensuring freshness and quality remain intact. 

Turkey Flat 2023 Rosé cans are now available for purchase through the Turkey Flat website and Turkey Flat cellar door. See https://www.turkeyflat.com.au/ You'll pay around $8 a can. 

Jacobs Creek, with its Le Petit Rosé Spritz, and Paxton Wines, with its low-alcohol NV Silver Sands Rosé, are other producers releasing pink wines in a can for summer, along with Tempus Two with its spritzes in a can. 

Are you ready to enjoy your wine from a bagnum?

Looking for a wine to take to the beach, or on a picnic?

Bottles are heavy, casks can be unwieldy. So how about a bagnum? 

Wines from Wolf Blass and Squealing Pig - both part of the Treasury Wine Estates stable - are now available in 1.5-litre carry bags, which have been dubbed bagnums as they contain the same amount of wine as two bottles.

The bagnums are lightweight and easy to carry and designed for summer entertaining. The blurb says they "offer convenience that doesn’t compromise on the quality".

You can also easily take home whatever wine is left over and pop it back into the fridge  

The Squealing Pig wines are a sauvignon blanc and a pinot gris.

Wolf Blass, meanwhile, has produced three varietals in a 1.5-litre format, including Wolf Blass Chardonnay, Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet and Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wines are described as "soft and approachable". I'll report back after I have tried them.

The bagnums are billed as having seven times lower carbon emissions than a traditional 750ml glass bottle and it is easier throw one into the esky than two glass bottles.

“The Squealing Pig style has always been to produce approachable, flavour-packed, fun wines," says Kaushik Lal, Squealing Pig’s senior brand manager.

"The expansion into Bagnums felt like a natural extension for this already playful and irreverent brand."

Shehan Ananthakumar, Wolf Blass’ senior brand manager, said: "“When it came to an iconic brand like Wolf Blass, it gave us the perfect platform to play in this category as its reputation for quality, character and exceptional winemaking can be extended into a valued product that will be enjoyed by all and for all occasions.”

Bagnums are available exclusively to Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores and are priced beteeen $28-$32. 

UPDATE: I have sampled the full range and there are two standouts. The sauvignon blanc is impressively bright and varietal - a terrific summer wine. The Wolf Blass cabernet sauvignon is of excellent quality and maintained its appeal a week after being opened. 

How canned wine is fast becoming mainstream

 

Wine in a can is becoming increasingly popular with more and more canned wines appearing on the shelves of retailers. 

Fourth Wave Wines has several of its brands available in cans - including Elephant in the Room, Le Chat Noir and Take it to The Grave - while Treasury Wine Estates offers Squealing Pig, and Innocent Bystander has enjoyed success with its moscato in an aluminium format.

Leading brands in the marketplace include Barokes, Crafters Union, and Riot Wines, while Jacob's Creek has also dipped its toe into the water. 

Wine in cans is a relatively new concept but is fast gaining traction - and the latest offering is not a bargain basement cheapie.

Port Phillip Estate on the Mornington Peninsula has just released its 2022 Salasso Rosé in both a 750ml bottle (RRP $27) and 250ml can (RRP $11). 

I tried the wine in a can and could discern no difference between it and the bottled wine - at least for immediate drinking. 

"Experimentation is an essential element of our winemaking philosophy , and in this case we have explored a non-traditional packaging format," says Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong chief winemaker Glen Hayley. 

"We were attracted to the slim 250ml aluminium can for its numerous environmentally friendly attributes, and its convenience."

Three 250ml cans are approximately 40% lighter than a traditional 750ml bottle, and more space efficient, as well as being durable and easily portable.

Port Phillip Estate says aluminium is "the most cost effective material to recycle". 

Hayley points out there was initial resistance among consumers to screwcaps but now over 90% of Australian wine is bottled using that format. 

"We believe it is important to challenge our current thinking and and occasionally challenge the accepted norms of premium wines," Hayley says.

The 250ml cans are available at cellar door and online at www.portphillipestate.com.au